Bobbie Nell Russell Roden

BOBBIE NELL RUSSELL RODEN Tupelo - Bobbie Nell Russell Roden, 79, died Thursday, March 7, 2013, at her home after a brief illness. She was born June 3, 1933, in Thaxton to Moody E. and Louallie Gafford Russell. She was a graduate of Thaxton High School and attended business school in Memphis. She was a stewardess for Southern Airways in the mid-1950s and later worked as secretary for West Main church of Christ. She was the owner of Travel Center of Tupelo and worked at her son's business, Roden's Piano and Music. While working for Southern Airways, she met her future husband, Cliff Roden, who was the manager for Southern's Tupelo station. They married November 11, 1956. They were charter members of West Main church of Christ in Tupelo where she attended for over 50 years. She loved to travel and was an avid Ole Miss fan. A service will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday at West Main Church of Christ in Tupelo with Doug Greenway officiating. Burial will be at Lee Memorial Park. W. E. Pegues Funeral Directors is in charge of arrangements. She is survived by her daughter, Monica Spencer (Jimmy) of Tupelo; her son, Rusty Roden (Karen) of Lafayette, LA; her brothers, M.G. Russell (Jan) of Memphis and Danny Russell (Tonie) of Thaxton; her sister, Donna Pettit (Gary) of Thaxton; her grandchildren, Annina Spencer of Tupelo, PFC James Spencer of Fort Sam Houston, TX, and Hallie and John Roden of Lafayette, LA; and nieces, Betty Brotherton, Alicia Russell, Dana Troyer, Gaye Ellis, Jenna Kentner, Andrea Warren, Allison Armstrong and nephew, Greg Russell and several great nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband of 40 years, Cliff Roden, on July 11, 1997; her parents, Moody and Louallie Russell; her sister, Joyce Bevil; and her nephew, Randy Bevil. Pallbearers will be Mitch Robbins and her nephews-in-law, Chris Troyer, Charles Ellis, Berry Kentner, Greg Warren, and Cory Armstrong. Honorary pallbearers will be her special Friday night friends, Jane Kellum, Peggy Ramsey, Lamoise Young, Betty Barber, Glenda Malone, Mary Master and Evelyn McEwen and special friend, Nancy Kilpatrick. Visitation will be from 4-7 p.m. Saturday at West Main Church of Christ and from 1 p.m. until service time Sunday. Memorials can be made in her honor to the American Diabetes Association or the building fund for the Riverside church of Christ, 111 East Camellia Blvd., Lafayette, LA, 70503.