Mark Russell

October 10, 1964 - July 23, 2021

Mark Anthony Russell was born on October 10, 1964 to Geneva Russell and the late Lawrence Russell in Baltimore, Maryland. He was one of twelve children (Bernice, Jacqueline, the late Tyrone, Janice, Lisa, Linda, Sylvia, Milton, David, Benjamin and Gwendolyn). Mark departed this life unexpectantly on Thursday, July 22, 2021 and is now resting in the celestial realm of the Lord. Mark gave his life to Christ and in recent years he attended Greater Gethsemane Baptist Church and St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church. Mark loved sports and began playing baseball at a young age with the Mary Dobkin Baseball League. As a teenager, Mark played in the Baltimore Neighborhood Basketball League (BNBL). Mark was educated in the Baltimore City Public School System, where he received his General Studies Diploma from Patterson High School and played varsity basketball. Shortly after graduation, Mark entered the United States Air Force. He served five years as a Material Storage Distribution Specialist. He also was on the Air Force Basketball Team. During his service, Mark completed college courses at the University of Maryland, Okinawa, Japan campus. He loved to travel and visited multiple states and countries. After returning home from the Air Force, Mark began working at Fiber Products in the evenings. He later attended the Community College of Baltimore County – Essex Campus, where he received his Nurse Technician Certification. Mark later worked at Franklin Square Hospital Center. Thereafter, he obtained a Surgical Technician Certification and was employed at Johns Hopkins Wilmer Eye Institute Operating Room and with the Cardiac Open-Heart Team at Johns Hopkins Hospital. Mark’s intellect and ability to learn quickly led to his selection to train on the DaVinci; a state-of-the-art touch-free surgical system. Mark had a kind and generous heart. He would often help people who stood in need. He had an incredible sense of humor, which he shared by telling jokes with family and friends. Mark loved music and was the neighborhood D.J.; once upon a time mixing music by himself and with his good friend Byron. He was also an avid runner. He ran in local 5k and 10k races. Mark enjoyed having in-depth conversations about life’s challenges, religion, politics, and sports; particularly discussing playoff and championship basketball and football games with his sister, Lisa. He also enjoyed talking to the youth and sharing life lessons. Mark leaves behind to cherish his memory and legacy: his mother, Geneva Russell; five sisters from his mother, Bernice Washington, Jacqueline Nelson, Janice Bethea, Lisa Chester (husband, Leroy), Linda Russell; one aunt, Rosie Johnson; five siblings from his father, Sylvia Russell, Milton Russell, David Russell (wife, Deborah), Benjamin Russell (wife, Cynthia) and Gwendolyn Russell; several nephews, nieces, great nephews, great nieces, and cousins; devoted girlfriend, Karen Thaniel; three best friends, Carl Gladden, Byron Redd, Darryl Butler; special friend, Brenda Regusters; and a host of other relatives and friends.