Bishop J. Russell "Russ" Sullivan, age 87, a resident of Cleveland, Tennessee, passed away Sunday, January 10, 2021 at the family residence.
Bishop Sullivan was born in Jackson, Ms. and he was the son of the late Viola Brigham Sullivan and William Sullivan. His wife, Violet Irlene Wright Sullivan, also preceded him in death.
Bishop Sullivan was a retired minister with the Church of God of Prophecy with 70 years of service. He pastored in Montana, Ohio, Texas and Indiana. He also served as state overseer in Montana, Oregon, Minnesota, North Dakota, Iowa and New Mexico. His passion became his mission work which included an orphanage in India. After retirement, he worked part time with Life Care where he worked in hospitality. He was very active in his service to Life Care. He enjoyed reading and going and visiting in nursing homes. Bishop Sullivan was a member of the Turning Point Community Church here in Cleveland.
Survivors include his daughters, Joyce B. Sullivan Cannon and her husband Jerald of Cleveland, Ohio, Karen C. Sullivan, Yvette Sullivan Krupansky and her husband Ray all of Cleveland, Tennessee; sons, Gregory L. Sullivan and his wife Debra of Covington, Georgia, Duane Sullivan and his wife Vicki of Cleveland, Tennessee; grandchildren, Christopher Cannon, Benjamin Cannon and his wife Carrie, Gina Cannon Soukup and her husband Frank, Shawna Sullivan Ivison and her husband David, James Russell Sullivan, Jenni Lynn Sullivan Adams and her husband Marcus, Connor Sullivan, Christine Shields Deleon and her husband Dean, Jennifer Shields Stevenson and her husband Michael, Cynthia Whitten Morrow and her husband Ronnie and Reverend Jonathan Whitten and his wife Irina; and numerous great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren also survive.
The Remembrance of Life Service will be conducted on Saturday, Jan. 16, at 1 p.m. at the Jim Rush Funeral and Cremation Services North Ocoee Chapel with Reverend Jonathan Whitten and Bishop Tim Coalter officiating. Interment will follow in the Sunset Memorial Gardens with Christopher Cannon, Benjamin Cannon, James Russell Sullivan, Connor Sullivan, Jennifer Stevenson and Jonathan Whitten serving as casket bearers.
The family request in lieu of flowers memorials be made to Bishop Sullivan's favorite charity, the orphanage he supported in Rajahmundry, India called Grace Home. Memorials can be made on line at www.gncindia.org or by mailing memorials to New Hope Chapel Church of God of Prophecy, 4545 W. 154th Street, Cleveland, Ohio 44135.
The family will receive friends Saturday, Jan. 16, from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Jim Rush Funeral and Cremation Services North Ocoee Chapel who has charge of the arrangements.
You may share your memories and your condolences with the Sullivan family at www.jimrushfuneralhomes.com.