Funeral for Atlanta skyline builder Herman J. Russell

Metro Atlanta

Nearly 2,000 mourners attended the funeral Saturday in Atlanta for commercial real estate developer Herman J. Russell. The funeral was held at Saint Philip AME Church on Candler Road. Russell, who died Nov. 15 at age 83, is considered one of the most successful African-American entrepreneurs the nation has ever seen. Russell worked his way from running a shoe-shine stand at age 12 to running a real estate and property management empire.

Attendees enter the funeral for Atlanta builder and civil rights leader Herman J. Russell, at Saint Philip AME Church, Saturday, Nov. 22, 2014. Russell, whose construction business helped shape Atlanta’s skyline, died Nov. 15 at the age of 83. KENT D. JOHNSON/KDJOHNSON@AJC.COM

Family members during the closing of the casket at the funeral for Atlanta builder and civil rights leader Herman J. Russell, at Saint Philip AME Church, Saturday, Nov. 22, 2014. Russell, whose construction business helped shape Atlanta’s skyline, died Nov. 15 at the age of 83. KENT D. JOHNSON/KDJOHNSON@AJC.COM

Family members enter the funeral for Atlanta builder and civil rights leader Herman J. Russell, at Saint Philip AME Church, Saturday, Nov. 22, 2014. Russell, whose construction business helped shape Atlanta’s skyline, died Nov. 15 at the age of 83. KENT D. JOHNSON/KDJOHNSON@AJC.COM

Family members including wife, Sylvia Russell, sons, Michael Russell, H. Jerome Russell Jr, and daughter, Donata Russell Major, are shown during the funeral for Atlanta builder and civil rights leader Herman J. Russell, at Saint Philip AME Church, Saturday, Nov. 22, 2014. Russell, whose construction business helped shape Atlanta’s skyline, died Nov. 15 at the age of 83. KENT D. JOHNSON/KDJOHNSON@AJC.COM

Family members including Sylvia Russell, Russell's wife, are shown during the funeral for Atlanta builder and civil rights leader Herman J. Russell, at Saint Philip AME Church, Saturday, Nov. 22, 2014. Russell, whose construction business helped shape Atlanta’s skyline, died Nov. 15 at the age of 83. KENT D. JOHNSON/KDJOHNSON@AJC.COM

Attendees at the funeral for Atlanta builder and civil rights leader Herman J. Russell, at Saint Philip AME Church, Saturday, Nov. 22, 2014. Russell, whose construction business helped shape Atlanta’s skyline, died Nov. 15 at the age of 83. KENT D. JOHNSON/KDJOHNSON@AJC.COM

Family members including Sylvia Russell, wife, sons, Michael Russell, H. Jerome Russell Jr, and daughter, Donata Russell Major, are shown during the funeral for Atlanta builder and civil rights leader Herman J. Russell, at Saint Philip AME Church, Saturday, Nov. 22, 2014. Russell, whose construction business helped shape Atlanta’s skyline, died Nov. 15 at the age of 83. KENT D. JOHNSON/KDJOHNSON@AJC.COM

Martin Luther King III is among attendees at the funeral for Atlanta builder and civil rights leader Herman J. Russell, at Saint Philip AME Church, Saturday, Nov. 22, 2014. Russell, whose construction business helped shape Atlanta’s skyline, died Nov. 15 at the age of 83. KENT D. JOHNSON/KDJOHNSON@AJC.COM

Herman Russell's grandaughters, Kelsey and Mori, leave the church after the closing of the casket at the funeral for Atlanta builder and civil rights leader Herman J. Russell, at Saint Philip AME Church, Saturday, Nov. 22, 2014. Russell, whose construction business helped shape Atlanta’s skyline, died Nov. 15 at the age of 83. KENT D. JOHNSON/KDJOHNSON@AJC.COM

An honor guard from the Atlanta Police Department enters the funeral for Atlanta builder and civil rights leader Herman J. Russell, at Saint Philip AME Church, Saturday, Nov. 22, 2014. Russell, whose construction business helped shape Atlanta’s skyline, died Nov. 15 at the age of 83. KENT D. JOHNSON/KDJOHNSON@AJC.COM

The choir sings during the processional for the family during the funeral for Atlanta builder and civil rights leader Herman J. Russell, at Saint Philip AME Church, Saturday, Nov. 22, 2014. Russell, whose construction business helped shape Atlanta’s skyline, died Nov. 15 at the age of 83. KENT D. JOHNSON/KDJOHNSON@AJC.COM

An attendee looks at her program at the funeral for Atlanta builder and civil rights leader Herman J. Russell, at Saint Philip AME Church, Saturday, Nov. 22, 2014. Russell, whose construction business helped shape Atlanta’s skyline, died Nov. 15 at the age of 83. KENT D. JOHNSON/KDJOHNSON@AJC.COM

Kelsey Russell reads Psalms 23 from the Old Testament, during the funeral for her grandfather, Atlanta builder and civil rights leader Herman J. Russell, at Saint Philip AME Church, Saturday, Nov. 22, 2014. Russell, whose construction business helped shape Atlanta’s skyline, died Nov. 15 at the age of 83. KENT D. JOHNSON/KDJOHNSON@AJC.COM

Mori Russell reads New Testament scripture from the book of Matthew during the funeral for her grandfather, Atlanta builder and civil rights leader Herman J. Russell, at Saint Philip AME Church, Saturday, Nov. 22, 2014. Russell, whose construction business helped shape Atlanta’s skyline, died Nov. 15 at the age of 83. KENT D. JOHNSON/KDJOHNSON@AJC.COM

Bishop John Hurst Adams gives a tribute during the funeral for Atlanta builder and civil rights leader Herman J. Russell, at Saint Philip AME Church, Saturday, Nov. 22, 2014. Russell, whose construction business helped shape Atlanta’s skyline, died Nov. 15 at the age of 83. KENT D. JOHNSON/KDJOHNSON@AJC.COM

Congressmen John Lewis and David Scott are among the attendees at the funeral for Atlanta builder and civil rights leader Herman J. Russell, at Saint Philip AME Church, Saturday,Nov. 22, 2014. Russell, whose construction business helped shape Atlanta’s skyline, died Nov. 15 at the age of 83. KENT D. JOHNSON/KDJOHNSON@AJC.COM

Michael Russell hugs his brother, H. Jerome Jr, during the funeral for Atlanta builder and civil rights leader Herman J. Russell, at Saint Philip AME Church, Saturday, Nov. 22, 2014. Russell, whose construction business helped shape Atlanta’s skyline, died Nov. 15 at the age of 83. KENT D. JOHNSON/KDJOHNSON@AJC.COM

L'Tanya Moore Campbell performs a musical medley during the funeral for Atlanta builder and civil rights leader Herman J. Russell, at Saint Philip AME Church, Saturday,Nov. 22, 2014. Russell, whose construction business helped shape Atlanta’s skyline, died Nov. 15 at the age of 83. KENT D. JOHNSON/KDJOHNSON@AJC.COM

Vernon Jordan gives the eulogy during the funeral for his lifelong friend, Atlanta builder and civil rights leader Herman J. Russell, at Saint Philip AME Church, Saturday, Nov. 22, 2014. Russell, whose construction business helped shape Atlanta’s skyline, died Nov. 15 at the age of 83. KENT D. JOHNSON/KDJOHNSON@AJC.COM

Andrew Young gives the benediction during the funeral for Atlanta builder and civil rights leader Herman J. Russell, at Saint Philip AME Church, Saturday, Nov. 22, 2014. Russell, whose construction business helped shape Atlanta’s skyline, died Nov. 15 at the age of 83. KENT D. JOHNSON/KDJOHNSON@AJC.COM

1/25

Attendees enter the funeral for Atlanta builder and civil rights leader Herman J. Russell, at Saint Philip AME Church, Saturday, Nov. 22, 2014. Russell, whose construction business helped shape Atlanta’s skyline, died Nov. 15 at the age of 83. KENT D. JOHNSON/KDJOHNSON@AJC.COM

Today's Gallery Headlines

Alerts

PHOTOS: Hawks defeat Celtics in key East battle

PHOTOS: 'No Kings' rally at Bishop Park in Athens, Ga.

PHOTOS: Braves go to 2-0 after walk-off grand slam

PHOTOS: Deepening impasse over DHS funding was plain to see at Dobbins Air Reserve Base hangar

PHOTOS: The final print run of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

PHOTOS: Buddhist monks travel through Atlanta on ‘Walk for Peace’

PHOTOS: Coca-Cola ads over time

PHOTOS: Fans attend 2026 World Cup draw party in Atlanta