John allen russell big John, the son of the late Eddie and Louisa Russell, was born on May 4, 1931 in Shelby, North Carolina. He departed this life on March 29, 2009 after a lengthy illness. The Russell family moved to Baltimore, Maryland when John was a young child, and here he attended the public schools of Baltimore. At seventeen John enlisted into the U.S. Army, where he was then sent to Germany for a short time. When he returned home from Germany he worked numerous jobs until finally gaining employment with his brothers at Rubber Millers, Inc. on Caton Avenue, where he worked for twenty-six years until his retirement. As a young man, John always had a passion for animals dogs and pigeons, especially pigeons. His love for pigeons inspired him to begin to buy and trade pigeons. After that, he began to enter his birds into races. His birds won many races, and John received many certificates and commendations. John liked the song "I Believe I Can Fly" by R. Kelly. I guess this reminded him of the freedom that his birds experienced when they flew. He wanted to do the same. John leaves to mourn; his brother, Ellwood Russell; sister-in-law Jean Russell; nieces, Frasncine Johnson, Gloria Stephens, Lillian Hawkins, Lynnette Moore and Diane Russell; nephews, John Jones, Jeffrey Russell, Ellwood Russell Jr. and Kenneth Moore; and a host of great-nieces, great-nephews and cousins.