Gail D. Russell was a graduate of West Virginia State College. As a graduate of West Virginia State College with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and a Master of Arts in Education from Virginia Polytechnic Institute, she was a stalwart to education. In 2007, Ms. Russell was awarded participation in the Maxine Smith Fellowship offered by the Tennessee Board of Regents. The “Leaders” program, as it was called, is a year-long national program sponsored by National Institute for Leadership Development that provides leadership training for women. She was specifically tasked with expanding the use of technology in Co-op Education and Placement at a time where technology dependency was still in its infancy.

She was a member of Oak Ridge Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated. She was initiated into the sorority in the Beta Pi Chapter at Bluefield State. As an active member of the Oak Ridge Alumnae Chapter, she served as the Technology Committee Chair and on the HBCU Expo committee. Gail Russell had been affiliated with the Silhouettes of Kappa Alpha Psi fifty plus years. The Silhouettes are the Wives and Widows of men of Kappa Alpha Psi. She was married to John P. Russell, Jr. the 20th Past South Central Province Polemarch. During her tenure, she served two terms as First Lady of the South Central Province. She also served as President of the Knoxville Alumni Chapter of Silhouettes.