"Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints."

Psalm 116:15 KJV

Evangelist Linda Faye Russell Butler, daughter of the late Thomas Russell and Lillie Mae Seibert Russell, was born January 5, 1951, in Philadelphia, PA. She received her education in the Philadelphia schools and graduated from Gratz High School, Philadelphia, PA.

Linda relocated to St. Stephen, SC in 1968 to begin a life with Edward Butler.  This union was blessed with five children.

Evangelist Butler accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior.  She became a servant of God and was very involved in church ministries. She was a member of Cornerstone Ministries in Ridgeville, SC where she served as the Church Mother. Mother Butler was a talented musician and played the lead guitar. She loved to sing and sang with the St. Stephen Combined Community Choir.

Evangelist Butler shared her musical talents with others. She taught all of her children music, allowing them to choose their instrument.  She also taught music to other children.  Her love of gospel music led her to be a disc jockey with Power 106 FM Gospel radio station in St. Stephen.  She worked the midnight shift, getting her praise on.  She also led the Power Prayer Line and evangelized to others.

Mother Linda was an energetic and hard worker.  She possessed a great love for children and was employed as a cook at the Thomas Myers Child Care Center.   She has fed many children throughout the St. Stephen, Pineville, Alvin and Forty-One communities both physically and spiritually. She supported her children, as well as other children, as a "Band Mom".  With love, she fed them once, and they would keep coming back for either food or biblical knowledge.

Mother Linda loved people and would share her smile as she worked at Wal-Mart as a Greeter and maintenance employee.

On Wednesday, May 24, 2017, Evangelist Butler slipped away in a peaceful sleep into eternal life with the Lord.  She will be remembered for her loving heart, her gentle spirit, her musical talents, and her unwavering faith in God.

Those she left wrapped in love and cherishing her memory are: her husband, Reverend Edward Butler; children Robert Newton of North Charleston, SC, David (Chenell) Butler of Atlanta, GA, Michelle (Shamel) Butler-Richardson of Ladson, SC, Felix (Jessica) Butler of Augusta, GA and Edwina Butler of St. Stephen, SC; spiritual children, Bertha and Darius Mitchell; 20 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren; siblings, James Russell of New Britain, CT, Laura R. Bryant of Dunn, NC, Richard Russell and Mary Russell both of  Philadelphia, PA and Ronald L. Russell of CT; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, church family and friends.

"Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing,

But a woman who fears the LORD,

she shall be praised.

Give her of the fruit of her hands,

And let her own works praise her in the gates."

Proverbs 31:30-31 (NKJV)