Joni Greene Russell

Joni Greene Russell passed away on February 7, 2025, after a battle with pancreatic cancer. She was 66.

She is survived by sisters Janet Greene Celko (Dick Turnipseed), Dianne Greene (Bob Brown), and Cindy Greene, brother Jim Greene (Elizabeth), sister-in-law Shell Spatch (Al), nephews Matt Celko and James Greene, nieces Katie Greene and Shanna Walker (Nick), and great-nephews Cameron and William Walker.

Joni was born in Atlanta, Georgia, the youngest of the late Guy and Helen Greene’s five children. After their father’s death in February 1970, the family moved to Fayette County in March 1973. She graduated in 1976 from Fayette County High School, where she was a member of the Tigerettes drill team, and attended Clayton Junior College before graduating from West Georgia College with a degree in Business Management in 1980. An early job at Rich’s department store made her a lifelong master gift-wrapper. While a student at West Georgia, she served as President of the Georgia chapter of Phi Beta Lambda.

Joni worked as a personnel manager at Richway and at Thomas R. Hopson Company. Later, she worked at S.P. Richards Company and the United Way of Metro Atlanta. Her final career stop was at the RAM Partners corporate office, where she spent 20 years before retiring in December 2023.

In August 1984, she married Bill Russell, and their son Andy was born in January 1991. Joni and Bill were long-time residents of East Cobb. The couple celebrated their 39th anniversary before Bill’s death in December 2023.

Joni was a long-time volunteer on the board of Cobb Christmas and served as a volunteer leader with Boy Scout Troop 797 and in the Foothills District with Bill and Andy. Joni was a successful Popcorn Kernel and completed the Wood Badge program. For her efforts in Scouting, she earned the District Award of Merit in 2010.

In her free time, Joni was an avid gardener and was known for making delicious muscadine jelly and spicy salsa. She enjoyed running 5K races and paddle boarding. She loved spending time with her many friends at OrangeTheory Fitness and in the Optavia community.

The family extends a special thanks to her many caregivers, including her good friend Bernita Miller, Capstone Hospice, and the angels at Sherri’s Comfort Care. We greatly appreciate the care she received from Emory’s Winship Cancer Institute.

A memorial service will be held Sunday, February 16, at 2 p.m. at Marietta First United Methodist Church, where Joni was a member, 56 Whitlock Ave. NW, Marietta, GA 30064.

In lieu of flowers, consider donating to causes dear to Joni: the Good Samaritan ministry at Marietta First United Methodist Church (www.mariettafumc.org) or Cobb Christmas (cobbchristmas.net).