Biography:

John Russ, licensed professional counselor, died on All Saints Day (November 1) 2025, no doubt so that the anniversary of his passing will always be remembered.

He was born October 15, 1943 to Ben Russ and Ruby French Russ. John graduated from Bradley High School, then went on to receive a BS in Speech Communication from Henderson State University, an MA in Public Address from the University of Arkansas Fayetteville and a doctorate in counseling from East Texas State University.

He met Nancy Philley at HSU when he was a sophomore and she was the Baptist Student Union Director (don’t worry. It wasn’t like that). Several years later, when he returned to HSU to teach, and Nancy left for Fayetteville to finish up her masters, John called in April to see if he could come visit her. They married June first.

The next summer, they served as missionaries to Alaska. After driving over 4500 miles, many of them on the graveled AlCan Highway, they spent much of the summer off the grid and watched the moon landing on a small television hooked up to their car battery. The next May, their daughter, Anne, was born.

After finishing his doctorate, John helped found Garland County Community College in Hot Springs where he began as Dean of Students (which he loved) and ended as Dean of Instruction (which he did not love).
When he launched his solo counseling practice, he charged $15 per session. To help build the practice, he and his wife Nancy (who was the director of the local mental health association) took to the speaking circuit to talk about mental health and human development.  One or both spoke to just about every organization in Garland County.

John sent 34 years as a counselor, first in Hot Springs and later in Little Rock. He is credited with “saving” hundreds of marriages as well as helping others survive their divorces. His specialty was grief counseling. He ran grief workshops for funeral directors as well as grief support groups at Second Presbyterian Church in Little Rock for many years.

Throughout his practice, John saw a wide range of people of all ages and professions. He loved his work with local teenagers as much as his work with doctors, lawyers and ministers.  He didn’t accept insurance because he hated paperwork, but he never turned anyone away because they couldn’t pay. A few people paid more than he charged. Some paid in Christmas cookies. 

John didn’t keep notes on his sessions because he refused to go to court in divorce or custody cases. When lawyers subpoenaed his records, he sent a list of sessions and dates.

In spite of never seeing himself as a businessman, John served as a life coach for many business professionals.  As the defacto counselor for employees of the Hatcher Agency, he and Nancy took a number of wonderful trips, including one to Greece with Greg Hatcher and his “musketeers.”

John is pre-deceased by his parents and by his nephew Mike Elkins. He is survived by his wife, Nancy, of 57 years; his daughter, Rev. Anne Russ (Robert “Skip” Lentz);granddaughter Maddie Lentz; sisters Carole Elkins and Marie Rushing; and a host of nieces and nephews.

He is also survived by the children of the late Buddy and Virigina Allen. When friend and mentor Buddy died at 42 leaving Viriginia with 10 children age 3 months to 18 years, college-student John became a big brother to them. They and their children have remained family. 

A memorial service will be held at Second Presbyterian Church in Little Rock at 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, November 6. Burial will be on Friday, November 7 at noon at the Walnut Hill Cemetery near Bradley, Arkansas.

The family wishes to thank Hospice Home Care and a host of others, too many to name, for their help, love and presence over the past few weeks.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you donate to an organization that feeds children. Memorials can be made to Second Presbyterian Church of Little Rock, Bradley Baptist Church of Bradley, Arkansas or Ferncliff Camp and Conference Center. Arrangements are under the direction of RuebelFuneralHome.com