Obituaries: Holli Fish Lancaster and Frances Ann Russell

Holli Fish Lancaster, 51, a former International Mission Board worker in Southeast Asia, died in Tennessee March 29, following a battle with ovarian cancer. Lancaster, a native Texan, and her husband, Dan, met at Baylor University in Waco, where she earned a bachelor of science degree. She also graduated from Texas Christian University with a master of science degree. The Lancasters planted churches in the United States and then moved to Southeast Asia, where they worked more than 12 years, training believers. She frequently traveled with friend and fellow missionary Kara Garrison to lead training sessions for displaced women from a variety of ethnic groups. At one point, the Lancasters and Garrisons lived in a country where conditions were difficult, and, Garrison said, “We needed each other to survive.” After the Lancasters’ daughter graduated from high school in Asia, the family returned to the United States to help her move to Union University in Jackson, Tenn., and then took a leave of absence from IMB to work in the missions department at the university. The family learned of her cancer in October. She is survived by her husband; children, Jeff, Zach, Karis and Zane; mother, Jean Holley Fish; and siblings, Steve Fish, Jeff Fish and Jennifer Pastoor. Her father, Roy Fish, longtime evangelism professor at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, preceded her in death.

Frances Ann Russell, 78, March 30 in Irving. She was born Oct. 1, 1937, to Guy and Thelma Parker in Mena, Ark. After graduating from high school in Mena, she went on to earn an undergraduate degree in education at Wichita State University in Wichita, Kan. She worked nine years as secretary at Broadway Baptist Church in Fort Worth. Most recently, she was a member of Irving Baptist Fellowship in Irving. As long as her health permitted, she enjoyed working in her flower garden and was an accomplished seamstress. She is survived by her husband of 56 years, Bob, who served 29 years as technical director for the Baptist General Convention of Texas; son and daughter-in-law, David and Sherry Russell of Irving; son and daughter-in-law, Steve and Patricia Russell of Bremond; and five grandchildren, Joshua, Stephanie, Matthew, Daniel and Lydia.