Georganna (Slabbekorn) Russell

Georganna Slabbekorn Russell passed away on Tuesday, June 18, 2024, in Johnson City, Tennessee from natural causes; she was 83 years old. Russell was born in Oak Ridge, Tennessee on May 26, 1941. After the war, Georganna’s family moved back to Morristown, where her parents had met. In May 1961 she wed Robert Russell, who she had met while attending Morristown- Hamblen High School, and briefly attended Carson-Newman College. While Robert served in the US Air Force from 1963-1967, Georganna relocated with him to posts in Charleston, South Carolina, and Denver, Colorado, working off-base in office administration and accounting. When Robert became one of the founding faculty members of Walters State Community College, Georganna returned to school, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Home Economics with an emphasis in Ceramics in 1976. Georganna then spent most of the 1980s and 1990s working for Oak Ridge National Labs as a drafter and designer.

Georganna’s life was filled with a great love for and numerous achievements in the arts and music. In high school, she was first chair saxophone and received all-state recognition twice. In 1957 she marched with the Hurricane band in the inauguration parade of President Dwight D. Eisenhower. She took up acoustic guitar and autoharp in her twenties, and in her thirties, she added mountain dulcimer to the mix. Her talent and enthusiasm for music were a big influence on her sons Andrew and Robert, who both became musicians as well. Georganna’s reputation as a potter, quilter, painter, and mixed-media artist was of the highest caliber; she participated in numerous shows and art festivals in the region, but none was closer to her heart than the annual Mountain Makin’s festival held at Rose Center in Morristown, at which she won Best in Show in several categories over the years.

Georganna is preceded in death by her husband, Robert Trent Russell, and older brother, Morris Henry Slabbekorn, Jr. She is survived by her sister, Carolyn Cannon; son Andrew, daughter-in-law Andrea, and granddaughter Elise Russell; son Robert Russell and grandchildren Rowan, Lucinda, and Declan Russell-Berry; and her devoted canine companion, Dylan.

The family will have a Celebration of Life for both Mr. and Mrs. Russell from 1 - 3 PM on Saturday, June 29, 2024, at Allen Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, donations should be made in Georganna’s name to the Robert and Georganna Russell Endowment care of the WSCC Foundation.

Contact: Chris Cates at 423.585.2618 or Kelly Bowen at 423.585.2673

https://ws.edu/about/foundation/ for further information.

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