Marguerite Clarene Pinkston Russell
MEMPHIS - Marguerite Clarene Pinkston Russell, age 96, was born February 22, 1926, in Memphis, Tennessee, and died May 13, 2022, in Collierville, Tennessee, surrounded by family and friends. She was the oldest child of the late Clarence Howard Pinkston, Sr. and Georgia Bouldien Pinkston. She was a fifth generation Shelby Countian and moved from Memphis to Collierville in 1939. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband of 65 years, James Milton Russell; and brothers Clarence Howard Pinkston, Jr., William Mckay Pinkston, John Thomas Pinkston, and sisters Shirley Pinkston Wilhite and Jean Pinkston Jordan. She is survived by her daughter, Katherine Russell Reisz and husband, Philip, of Dalton, Georgia, and a dearly loved grandson, Alexander J. Reisz, of Marietta, Georgia. She also leaves a nephew, Robert Howard Pinkston, Sr. and wife Sherry of Clanton, Alabama; and great nephew, Robert Howard Pinkston, Jr. and wife Lauren of San Antonio, Texas, and their children Andi, Cody and Kacey as well as great niece Christina Pinkston Elrod and husband Jonathan of Bremerton, WA; and long-time friends Tommy and Pat Laster.
Clarene graduated from Collierville High School in 1945 and married James Russell in September of 1948, in Germantown, Tennessee. In 1951 they opened Russell’s Farm Supply and they operated the business until it sold in 1977.
Clarene loved her hometown of Collierville and served her town, community and state for more than fifty years. She served as the first chairman of the Collierville Town Beautiful Commission, and president of the 20th Century Club, Contemporary Club, and the Home Demonstration Club. Clarene served on the Collierville Centennial Committee and Chaired the Bicentennial Committee in 1976. She served on the Historical Zoning Commission, Zoning Appeals Commission and for twenty-four years she served on the Collierville Planning Commission. She chaired the Shelby County Farm Bureau Women and received the Leonard J Kerr award for leadership and dedication to agricultural activities. She served on the Shelby County Historical Commission, Tennessee Historical Commission and the Tennessee Consumer Protection Commission. Clarene served as Regent of the local DAR chapter, helped organize the Descendants of Early Settlers of Shelby County to help promote the preservation of historical documents and spear-headed the move to establish the Shelby Country Archives. As Collierville Town Historian she wrote Collierville, Tennessee - Her People and Neighbors. In 2006 she was named the Collierville Chamber of Commerce Person of the Year.
A graveside service is planned for Tuesday, May 17th, 11:00 a.m. at Magnolia Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Collierville United Methodist Church, Morton Museum of Collierville History or an organization of your choice.