Fenner Upchurch Russell

Fenner Upchurch Russell, 61, of Fayetteville, Ark., joined heaven's choir on Monday, Oct. 6, 2014. Fenner was born in El Paso, Texas, to Joe and Flossie Upchurch and moved to Fayetteville at the age of 2. She is survived by her husband of almost 40 years, David Russell; her children, Charlie and daughter-in-law, Michelle, of Austin, Texas, Jimbo Russell of travels far-and-wide, Katie Russell of Fayetteville; her namesake grandsons, Fenner Michael (Finn) Russell and soon-to-arrive Sawyer David Russell of Austin. Fenner is also survived by siblings, Andy Upchurch (Vicki) of San Leon, Texas, the Rev. Melissa Upchurch of Marshall, N.C., and Nancy Fletcher (Alan) of Fort Worth, Texas. Also surviving is her uncle, Jim Stice (Betty) of Austin; and numerous cousins, nieces, nephews; and, in her words, in-laws and outlaws. Friends she cherished are too numerous to list. Fenner was director of music ministries and classic worship at Central United Methodist Church in Fayetteville, directing choirs and hand bells over the past 13 years. She championed a local hand bell festival for the past 10 years, where hundreds of participants from four states participated. Fenner loved to work the aisles prior to each worship service to greet people, making all feel welcome. She directed numerous cantatas, always reminded participants that it was not a production, but a service of glory to God. Fenner loved gardening, and found mowing to be a source of relaxation, often doing so on Mother's Day to the great embarrassment to her husband. She approached travel as a grand adventure. Her children referred to her as Magellan as she would read travel books and point out interesting facts on road trips. Travels took her to Taiwan, Italy, Greece, Turkey, Bermuda, and numerous Caribbean islands with her husband and family. She loved the beach where she could read for hours between snorkeling excursions and even SCUBA. She also loved to travel often with the "fun girls" from Texas, most recently experiencing 3 Gs in a bobsled ride in Utah. Every occasion was a chance for a party. She loved to entertain in her Wilson Park home, which was built by her great-grandparents in 1916. Parties ranged from holiday parties with hundreds, to just "flinging the doors open" and having friends over for casual meals. No birthday went uncelebrated and she took great pride in creating unique parties for her children, eschewing canned commercial affairs. No staff celebration at church was dull, and no pastor or staff member was immune from being roasted with a funny hat, costume or a new creation of a song. Fenner had a vast vocabulary, yet friends and family kept lists of her "Fennerisms," such as flang (past tense of fling), goozle (throat), hither and yon, hydrangerium (hybrid), hysterical markers (historical markers) and sozzle (soak), to name a few. She didn't walk somewhere, she toddled over. And everything was glorious! Fenner was a member of the 1971 graduating class from Fayetteville High School. She was a graduate of the University of Arkansas with a bachelor of science and an MBA, a member of Alpha Chi Omega sorority, the Razorback Band, and served in numerous leadership roles on campus. She was the 1974 Miss University of Arkansas, and won the preliminary talent competition and placed in the top five in the Miss Arkansas Pageant. While she was an accomplished pianist, her explanation for her pageant success was attributed to just making the best of being thrown into the situation as a last minute candidate from her sorority. She was truly a beauty, inside and out. A celebration of Fenner's life will be held Friday, Oct. 10, at 2 p.m. at Central United Methodist Church. She always told family and friends that she wanted her service to be filled with lively music of celebration and insisting that those attending wear bright colors. A reception will immediately follow in the church's Great Hall. Burial services will be held privately. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Central United Methodist Music Ministries, 6 West Dickson, Fayetteville, AR 72701. To sign the online guest book, please visit www.nelsonberna.com.