Russell E Dandridge

On Monday, May 3, 2021 at Gilchrist Hospice Center, Russell was called home to be with his Lord and Savior after several years of declining health. 

Russell was born on December 19, 1938 to Edward Marshall and Nannie Tyler Dandridge, in Goochland County, VA, and received his early schooling in that school system.

In 1950, his family moved to Baltimore, MD, where Russell completed his formal education in the local public school system and graduated from Carver Vocational Technical High School in 1959. Russell was enrolled in the Tailoring and Design curriculum at Carver and acquired the skills necessary for clothing garments alteration, repair, and maintenance. He became proficient with the pressing and sewing machines. While attending Carver, Russell worked part-time at the Russell Drewery Cleaners on E. Oliver Street and later at the Nu- Way Cleaners on N. Washington Street, putting into practice some of the skills he was acquiring at Carver.

During this same period, he fathered a son, Gerald, with his sweetheart, Barbara Stokes (now deceased), whom he met while working at the Nu-Way Cleaners. Shortly after graduating from Carver, Russell enlisted in the US Navy in 1959 and was assigned to work in the Tailor Shop aboard the USS Little Rock and was honorably discharged in 1963.

Upon his return from the Navy, Russell went back to work at the Nu-Way Cleaners. In 1969, Russell married Catherine Ogburn, but their marriage ended in divorce. One daughter, Renita, was born to this union.

In addition to working at the two cleaners, Russell also was employed by Crown Cork & Seal Company and Western Electric Company. When the latter company relocated, Russell returned to the dry-cleaning business and took over operations of the Federal Cleaners on E. Federal Street for his long-time friend Theodore Colclough, Jr. During this time, Russell was also the sole proprietor of Dandridge Advertising, selling advertisements and small staple promotional items. Russell also received training for printing press operations and worked with Beacon Press located on E. Monument Street. Many of the establishments he frequented sociably became his customers for advertising and printing materials.

Russell was a faithful member of Historic St. Francis Xavier, where he attended Masses on a regular basis until his health prevented him from doing so. He also provided transportation to and from church for some of his more elderly neighbors and would get an extra church bulletin for each of them when they could not attend church.

To say that Russell was opinionated would be putting it mildly. Once he made up his mind about something, there was no way you were going to convince him otherwise. (His mother used to refer to him as being “hard headed” and often reminded him that a “sharp tongue cuts deep.”) If he thought he was right about something, you could not convince him otherwise.

Growing up, when he wasn’t working, Russell enjoyed swimming and spent much of his free time at the Clifton Park swimming pool. One of Russell’s favorite pastimes was fishing from an early age and well into his senior years. He went fishing regularly, without fail, as often as he could during fishing season. Whenever he returned with a full cooler, he would share his catch with family and friends. Russell also enjoyed listening to different types of music; the blues, spirituals, and country western were among his favorite genres. Also high on that list were religious broadcasts and Rock & Roll (“the oldies, but goodies”). He had no time for instrumental music – his request was always to hear music with “words,” as he would put it. In Russell’s own words, he had “a great run” and “couldn’t have asked for better.”

 He is preceded in death by his parents, Edward and Nannie Dandridge; four sisters, Eva M. Berryman, Ethel E. Dandridge, Corrine Smith, Irene Dandridge; one brother, Charles M. Dandridge; and three nephews, Wallace Dandridge, Howard Berryman, and Maurice Berryman.

He leaves to cherish his memory, one son, Gerald E. Stokes; one daughter, Renita E. Dandridge; one granddaughter, Kayla Stokes; one brother, Lawrence E. Dandridge (Elaine); an ex-wife, Catherine O. Dandridge (who provided invaluable assistance with his medical appointments and treatments throughout his illness and as his health declined); four nieces, Felicia Smith, Celeste Smith, Sabrina Dandridge, LaWanda Dandridge; three nephews, Kevin Berryman, Xavier Smith, Lawrence Smith; as well as grandnieces, grandnephews, several great-grandnieces and great-grandnephews, numerous cousins, extended family, and a host of fishing buddies and friends. In Russell’s own words, he had “a great run” and “couldn’t have asked for better.”

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