Mrs Sherry "Shirley" Florio Russo

Sherry (Shirley) Florio Russo, 88, died January 25, 2015 at Wilson Hospice House, Albany, GA. The Remains have been cremated. Kimbrell-Stern Funeral Directors, Albany, GA managed the arrangements. A private service will be held in Panama City, FL at a later date. Mrs. Russo was born November 28, 1926 in East Haven, CT. Educated in Hamden, CT and a 1944 graduate of Hamden High School, she married Alfred D. (Fred) Russo in 1947. They lived in the Hamden and Branford, CT areas for many years. Her early adult years were comprised of raising her family and volunteering her time to a variety of non-profit agencies. Of note was her dedication to fund-raising for St. Anthony’s Orphanage in New Haven, CT and Blessed Sacrament Church in Hamden, CT. After moving with her husband and family to Georgia in 1964, Mrs. Russo became an active resident of Manchester/ Meriwether County, GA. She was well known for her expertise in needle work and earned numerous awards in regional competitions. She was the owner of Sherry’s School of Dance, was a member of the Manchester Woman’s Club and with her husband, worked to raise thousands of dollars for Easter Seals. In 1970, she was honored by being named the Manchester/ Meriwether County Homemaker of the Year. In 1974, Mrs. Russo achieved a lifelong dream by graduating with a degree in nursing from Columbus State College (now Columbus State University). She practiced as a Registered Nurse at the Georgia Warm Springs Rehabilitation Hospital. In 1975, Mrs. Russo relocated with her husband and family to Bay Point/ Panama City, FL. During her thirty years in the area, Mrs. Russo held several professional positions. Of note are her years as the Director of Infection Control and Employee Health Services at Gulf Coast Community Hospital, an HCA affiliate. After retirement, Mrs. Russo volunteered at Gulf Coast. In 2004, in recognition of her countless hours of dedicated volunteer service in the Emergency Department, she was nominated for HCA’s prestigious Frist Humanitarian Award. Prior to moving to Albany, Mrs. Russo lived in Big Canoe, GA for several years. She was a published author of poetry, a world traveler, a devotee of Jazz, ballet and all things oriental, an avid indoor gardener and an expert in knitting and other needlework. Mrs. Russo was preceded in death by her parents, Carl J. and Jean Arpaia Florio; her husband of 39 years, Alfred D. Russo Sr., and her daughter, Carla Russo Griffith. She is survived by her daughter, Valerie Russo Buchanan (George) of Albany, GA; her son, A. David Russo Jr. (Helen) of Panama City, FL; her sister, Audrey Florio Grava of Chicago, IL; her sister Barbra Florio Graham of Gatineau, Quebec, Canada; her granddaughters, Joy Russo Chonko (Stephen) and Noel Russo of Panama City, FL and Kelly Russo (formerly Kelly Griffith) of Spokane, WA; her grandsons, George Buchanan III (Mary) of Birmingham (Hoover), AL and Gregory Buchanan (Lori) of Scottsdale, AZ; her great-grandchildren, Katherine, Whit and Alex Buchanan of Birmingham, AL and Samuel and Natalie Buchanan of Scottsdale, AZ; and numerous nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Thronateeska Heritage Foundation, 100 West Roosevelt Avenue, Albany, GA 31701 or to The Anchorage Children’s Home, 2121 Lisenby Avenue, Panama City, FL 32405.

Mrs Sherry "Shirley" Florio Russo

November 28, 1926 - January 25, 2015