BARBARA JEAN DRAKE RUSSELL, passed away Tuesday, May 10, 2011, at the Cayuga Medical Center surrounded by her loving family after a courageous battle with multiple myeloma. “Barb” was born April 2, 1960 in Ithaca, a daughter of JoAnn Mullen Drake-Shepardson of Ithaca and the late George “Ed” Drake. Barb attended Ithaca High School; was employed at Cornell University Dining Services for many years and was a member of the Brooktondale Baptist Church.Survivors include her children, Victoria and JoAnn Cunningham, Cheyenne and Chantelle Russell; her siblings, Frank (Marie) Maguire, Ed (Cheryl) Drake, Chris Butler, Durcy (Milton) DeGraw, Betty Jo (Wayne) Watson; her grandchildren, Terrell, Hayley, Nyasia, Nicholas and Angelina; special friends, Jeff Combs and Lesley Finch; a special cousin Rosie Mainville-Rowe; nieces, nephews and cousins.
She was predeceased by her father, George E. Drake and a brother-in-law, Frank “Butch” Butler.
Funeral services will be held at 1 PM Friday, May 13, 2011 at the Perkins Funeral Home with Pastor Richard Lloyd of the Brooktondale Baptist Church officiating. Burial will follow in Quick Cemetery, Brooktondale. Friends are invited to call Friday at the funeral home from 11 AM to 1 PM. Memorials in her name may be sent to Barbara Russell Memorial, c/o The First National Bank of Dryden, P.O. Box 25, Dryden, NY 13053-0025.
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