Like many pastors, the Rev. Nim B. Russell worked hard to prepare people for the unknown.
His sermons admonished listeners to believe God was in control, and he encouraged people to love one another, said Tim Turner, chairman of the deacon board at Thankful Baptist Church in Rome.
“He was a powerful man of God and he was teaching us what we needed to know,” Turner said. “A few months ago he started these classes for each ministry, teaching us how to lean on each other so the church could keep moving forward.”
Turner said he had no idea how quickly the church was going to need those lessons.
On March 30, the evening of Russell’s 23rd church anniversary, the pastor and his wife, Julia P. Russell, were heading east on Ga. 140 in Bartow County about 8:30 p.m., when their car was struck by a suspected drunk driver. Julia Russell was badly hurt, and Nim Bernal Russell of Adairsville died from injuries in the wreck. He was 55.
A funeral is planned for 11 a.m. Wednesday at West Rome Baptist Church. Burial will be private. F.K. Jones Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
On the church’s Facebook page members and friends lamented Russell’s death but repeated the lessons he taught. A message from the church announcing Russell’s death reminded friends and family of one of his last statements the day he died. “He told us today … to hashtag ‘to God be the glory,’ ” the post says.
“It is his words and statements that are getting me through right now,” said the Russell’s youngest daughter, Rachael Jones of Atlanta. “I can hear him telling us ‘We’re a strong family,’ and ‘We’ll make it through,’ and I believe that right now.”
Russell entered ministry in 1982 and soon started pastoring. His first church was the Second Missionary Baptist Church in Wetumpka, Ala., and in 1991 he moved his family to Georgia as he took the role of pastor at Thankful Missionary Baptist Church.
Jones said her father was not only dedicated to the church but also to his family. She said no matter what, he made sure they all sat down to Sunday dinner as a family.
“He was right there at the head of the table,” she said. “And we’d talk and laugh and joke. He made sure that he had that time with us.”
Jones said her father was a good cook and friends and family especially looked forward to his chicken and Cornish hen dishes.
Turner said Russell was a gifted preacher, who “was about ready to preach anytime he started talking.”
“He just always had a word to share,” the deacon said. “That’s just the kind of man he was.”
Turner said Russell’s spirit of loving people will surely live on at Thankful Baptist Church.
“He really seemed to love people, and I mean all people,” the deacon said. “And he was big on reaching people where they were. He’d say ‘You don’t have to get fixed up to come to church.’ And that is the truth.”
In addition to his wife of 34 years and daughter, Russell is survived by children, Octavious Russell of Rome, and Nichole Russell Askew of Adairsville; mother Willie Pearl Russell of Opelika, Ala; brothers, Calvin Russell of Northport, Ala., Jeffery Russell of Winchester, Calif., Gerald Russell of Chesapeake, Va., and Rodney Pollard of Columbus; sisters, Betty Jo Mitchell of Richfield, Minn., and Jodie Slaughter of Opelika; and 11 grandchildren.
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