We are men who lead, serve, protect and defend, whether we are giving out Coats for Kids, donating wheelchairs, lending a helping hand in disaster relief efforts, supporting local pregnancy centers or providing top-quality financial products.
The Russells have been attending Holy Spirit since before it officially became a parish, back when it was a mission church celebrating Masses at Duncanville’s Central Elementary School. Jim and Mary’s 60th wedding anniversary is July 9, the ceremony having taken place at St. John’s Catholic Student Center on the campus of Oklahoma State. He served as a U.S. Army officer and went to Vietnam in 1968-69. Jim is from upstate New York, Mary from Oklahoma. He graduated with a degree in general business from OSU and retired in 2011 following 30 years with Northrup Grumman and Raytheon. They have long been active in parish life, particularly in the music ministry. They have lived in Cedar Hill since 1972, have five grown children (Janine, Mark, Matthew, Christine and Tiffany), 13 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Jim joined the Knights in February 2012 and added membership in the Fourth Degree in September 2014. He has held the highest K.C. positions at both the council level (our Grand Knight during the 2021-23 fraternal years and Faithful Navigator of the Fourth Degree’s Assembly 2799 during the 2018-20 years). Jim previously served as 8157’s Lecturer and went to great lengths to provide informative and inspirational talks. Mary for years organized the parish youth choir that performed during the Christmas season, having been a music teacher at Cedar Hill High and St. Joseph’s Catholic School in Waxahachie. She participates in Holy Spirit’s ministry to the sick and homebound. Their combined devotion to the parish’s craft group was on display during Holy Spirit’s most recent Pentecost picnic.
