Gabriel Stacy Russell October 16, 1947 – November 15, 2020

Despite his innate warrior spirit, Gabriel Stacy Russell, age 73, has lost a hard fought battle with renal cell carcinoma. He transitioned to be with the ancestors on Sunday, November 15, 2020 at the Duke Hock Family Pavilion surrounded by his loving family. Gabe, as he was professionally known, and Stacy, if you really, really knew him, leaves behind countless heavy hearts and an unfillable void in the lives of all that had the privilege to be touched by his spirit.

Gabe was the fourth child of the late Junius Byron and Elizabeth Russell. He grew up in a loving family of six children on his family’s farm in the Axtell Community of Warren County, NC. Through his family's long standing investment in the land, Gabe, at an early age developed an affinity and appreciation for hard work. Gabe often said: “There’s only one way to spell work…Let’s go, we’re burning daylight”. Moreover, though often looked for by his two sons, Gabe didn’t possess a lazy bone in his entire body.

As a child, Gabe’s beloved mother worked to instill in him a Christian heart and a love and empathy for his fellow man. His motivating father helped to foster in him an insatiable work ethic and a high aptitude for ingenuity. Through his experiences on the farm he learned to respect and love the land. Following in the footsteps of his older siblings, Gabe became an avid member of the 4-H Clubs of America, ingraining in him early on the notion of “learning by doing.” Gabe attended John R. Hawkins High School. It was here he first began to develop the necessary skills of a craftsman. He excelled in industrial arts, specifically brick masonry, becoming the first North Carolina State President for the Vocational Clubs of America (V.I.C.A.).

It was during these formative high school years, under the tutelage of his Uncle Joseph Richardson and brick masonry instructor, Mr. W.E. Exum, that Gabe acquired the skills of a Mastermason. With an independent spirit, even before graduation, Gabe embarked on his career in masonry and construction, stealing away from the farm without permission, to apply his trade far from home in Lakewood, New Jersey, returning just in time for graduation. He had found his passion and his course was plotted. As an operative and speculative mason, Gabe applied his trade as well as lived his life by three simple rules: by being Plumb, Level and Straightedge in all of his endeavors.

Joining his two older brothers in military service, Gabe enlisted in the United States Navy in 1968. Joining the elite cadre of construction battalion sailors better known as “The Fighting Seabees”. During his enlistment with the Seabees he was stationed in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, Gulf Port, Mississippi and Narragansett, Rhode Island. After being honorably discharged from the Navy, Gabe later went on to reenlist with the 505th Engineer Battalion of the Army National Guard out of Warrenton, NC where he served honorably as the unit’s weapons armament specialist until he retired with a rank of E- 5 in 1993.

In a uniquely reluctant twist of fate, in 1970, Gabe accepted a teaching position with Granville County Schools as a vocational education teacher. A stipulation for accepting his new position was that upon his upcoming nuptials, his new bride would also be considered for a teaching position in the district as well. Gabe eagerly accepted this new teaching position knowing that he would be among one of the first Black educators to integrate the faculty at J. F. Webb High School.

It was during his tenure at J. F. Webb High School that Gabe was truly able to allow the seeds he’d sown throughout his life, to grow, and manifest themselves in the lives of others, specifically in the lives of his students. He was a firm believer in the proverb: Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime. He saw how far his trade had taken him and wanted to share that path with others. Not only was Gabe a Master mason, but he was also a master teacher who cared deeply for all of the “boys” that came through his program, who hopefully learned, it was much more important to put something inside their heads rather than putting something on it. One of Gabe’s final admonishments to many of his former students whose lives were touched or impacted by him, would be to simply pay that gratitude forward, by uplifting some other young person in their lives the same way he had done for them. Keeping in mind, Gabe always had a soft spot for that D or C student. He believed that if given the opportunity and a little extra love and support, that student could go on to achieve great things, just ask some of his “boys” he put to work in the industry over the years.

Mr. Russell’s philosophy for life, often seeped into his classroom discussions. He was an ardent champion of Booker T. Washington’s notion of self-help and racial solidarity. He could often be heard quoting James Brown: “I don’t want nobody to give me nothing (Open up the door, I’ll get it myself)”. Mr. Russell was a pragmatic and direct educator who expected excellence from everyone who took his class. A quote that should resonate with many of his former students, “You can’t make chicken salad out of chicken sh*t son!

One of the only benefits of Gabe’s year long bout with cancer was that his death was not a surprise to him or his family. He had time to put his house in order. As Gabe would say, he had time to make a plan. Gabe had a chance to reconcile with his ultimate demise and find peace and “a little bit of comfort.” He likened life to a great big game of dodgeball...You can run, duck, and dodge but eventually somethings going to get you in the end. But please don’t misunderstand, Gabe was also a fighter, known to do the Ali Shuffle in times of jubilation. And despite the beating cancer gave him, Gabe’s head was bloody but remained unbowed...He went down swinging.

Many close friends and family may be shocked by his sudden passing and the discretion with which he shared the details of his illness. However, if you truly knew Gabe and understood how he loathed pity his rationale is all too clear. One of Gabe’s favorite lines: “If you see me in a fight with a bear...Help the bear.”

The only thing stronger than Gabe’s work ethic would be the commitment and love he had for his wife and two sons. On November 25, 1971, Gabe married the love of his life for the last 50 years, Judy Perry. From that union, two loving sons were born, Ryan and Nolan who will serve as their father’s living resurrection, constantly building on the lessons taught by their Dad, consequently, Gabe’s essence will never die. The abiding love created by Judy and Stacy now serves as the rock that the entire family clings to as the storms of life are raging.

In addition to his nuclear family, Gabe also leaves to cherish his memory, five siblings (two brothers and 3 sisters), two aunts and a host of nieces and nephews, extended family and countless colleagues and friends. “To everything there is a season A time for every purpose under Heaven A time to be born and a time to die...”

So Long

**The family has requested that in lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the Food Bank of Central & Eastern NC in Gabe's name.