Russell D. Stansbury

Russell Dubois Stansbury was born to the late Clayton C. Stansbury, Sr. and Mary V. Stansbury, in Havre de Grace, Maryland on December 3, 1924. He was the third of seven children.

Russell received his elementary and secondary high school education at the Havre de Grace Colored School. He graduated from the Havre de Grace Colored High School in 1943 during WWII. He earned the B.S. degree in Education at Maryland State College in Princess Anne, Maryland in 1947 and a Master of Arts degree from New York University in 1956. He completed additional studies at West Virginia State College and North Carolina A&T University.

He returned to the site of his public-school education as its first industrial arts teacher. He had to write the entire curriculum and purchase all the necessary shop equipment. His roster of students included his two younger brothers, Clayton and Wardell.

In addition to his academic teachings, he was the track and basketball coach. Two of his students in athletics were Earl Christy of the New York Jets Super Bowl Champions and baseball’s ironman Cal Ripken.

Russell spent his entire thirty-nine-year professional career as a teacher in Harford County, Maryland as follows: Havre de Grace Colored High School (1947-1954); Havre de Grace Consolidated School (1954-1964); Aberdeen Junior High School (1964-1974); Aberdeen Middle School (1974-1985) and Fallston High School (1987-1988).

Russell's advocacy for social change is exemplified by his affiliation and membership in many civic positions and organizations. He was the last living Charter Member of the Pi Epsilon Chapter of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., Maryland State College, Princess Anne, Md. He was inducted into the Fraternity on May 3, 1947. He was also a Charter Member of the Iota Nu Chapter Aberdeen, Maryland, which received its Charter on January 28, 1970. He served two terms as Basileus (President) of the Iota Nu Chapter and the recipient of many chapter awards. The Omega shields made by him are still displayed by many chapters.

He was a lifetime member of the NAACP and held memberships on the Board of Directors of the North Central Maryland Lung Association, Harford County School Board Permanent Nominating Caucus, the Harford County Democratic Central Committee of the Board of Elections and served two terms as the President of the Harford County Board of Elections.

His awards and recognition were many. In 2007 a scholarship was named in honor of Russell at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. The Hazel Hall Lobby at UMES was dedicated in his honor. He was named a Harford Living Treasure in 2002 and inducted into the Harford County Education Hall of Fame in 2004.

Russell was married to the late Mildred Gore Stansbury for fifty-one years at the time of her departure from life in July 1999. Together they enjoyed running a small grocery/candy story in Havre de Grace. He also enjoyed flower and vegetable gardening. For many years Russell and his wife hosted the annual family Fourth of July celebration. He has been a member of St. James AME Church in Havre de Grace since 1941.

He is survived by two brothers, Rev. Marcus Stansbury, Sr.and Dr. Clayton C. Stansbury, Jr; sister-in-laws Cassie N. Stansbury, Catherine P. Stansbury, and Margaret G. Cason; nieces Sharon Stansbury and Sheila Stansbury; nephews Duane Gordon, Marcus Stansbury, Jr. (Cheretta) and Alan Cason (Kim); and great-nephews/niece, Derrick Gordon, Marcus Stansbury, III, Christopher Cason and Shannon Cason