Lou Ellen Rhodes Russell, 73, of West Monroe, safely made it home with Jesus on July 9, 2022, after a courageous battle with cancer. She was born on December 24, 1948, in El Dorado, Arkansas, the second of six children born to Vergil Harris Rhodes and Mary Gene Rhodes.

Lou Ellen grew up in her beloved hometown of Spearsville, LA, where she and her brother, sisters, and childhood friends had many adventures and a community of supportive and godly people. She was a Louisiana Tech University theatre major, and one of the highlights of her college years was being cast as Guinevere in the musical Camelot. After college, she was the fashion coordinator for Tiches department store in Dallas, TX, were she also did some modeling. When she moved to the Monroe area, she became the fashion coordinator for Pecanland Mall, where she taught modeling classes and organized mall-wide fashion shows. She loved her church, Cedar Crest Baptist, and served many roles teaching VBS, Sunday school, Women’s Bible studies, and youth classes and events. Her dedication with Bible Study Fellowship, a worldwide in-depth Bible study, was inspiring to her faith and led her to many dear friends. After her breast cancer journey 30 years ago, she served as a Reach to Recovery volunteer, visiting and encouraging other women diagnosed with breast cancer.

Her favorite job and role was Mama to her daughter, and eventually, Nana to her three grandchildren. She planned elaborate birthday parties, fun trips and adventures, and was a generous and thoughtful gift-giver. Her beloved nieces and nephews would also attest to her being a “fun” aunt. She was a crafter, crocheting special gifts and favors, and wire wrapping jewelry. She and her husband, John, enjoyed traveling to many places on and “off the beaten path” and taking their grandchildren on special trips.

Her most important relationship was with Jesus Christ, her Lord and Savior. “I am the way, and the truth, and the life, no one comes to the Father but through Me.” (John 14:6)
Acts 4:12 says about Jesus Christ, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men whereby you must be saved.” Nothing would delight her more than for others to know Him from the testimony of her life.

Lou Ellen is survived by her husband, John David Russell, mother, Mary Gene Rhodes, daughter, Nora Catherine Asher (Jeremy), grandchildren, Anna Elizabeth Asher, David Jeremiah Asher, and Daniel James Asher, sisters, Susan Spears, Beth Lawson, Helen Asfar (Alex), Laurie Smith (Phillip), and brother, Vergil Rhodes, Jr. (Susan), and numerous nieces and nephews.

A funeral service will be held at Cedar Crest Baptist Church in West Monroe at 2:00 P.M., Wednesday, July 13, 2022. Rev. Phillip Smith and Dr. Greg Clark will officiate. Interment will follow at Spearsville Community Cemetery. Visitation will be held Tuesday, July 12, from 5:00 P.M. ~ 7:00 P.M. in the chapel at Kilpatrick Funeral Home in West Monroe.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to Cedar Crest Baptist Church, or Gideons International.

To send flowers to the family or place a tree in memory of Lou Ellen Russell, please visit our Tribute Store.