Retired Greenville Picture Frame Business Owner, Russell, Passes Away
May 11, 2012
GREENVILLE, SC – May 11, 2012 – Earl H. Russell, Jr., former owner and operator of the House of 10,000 Picture Frames in Greenville, South Carolina for nearly 30 years, passed away last weekend. Mr. Russell opened the custom picture frame business in a location off Augusta Road in 1971 and later opened a second location at the intersection of Haywood and Laurens Road. He eventually moved the Augusta Road location to focus on Greenville’s high-growth Eastside market. As a repeat guest on the Nancy Welch Show, which was broadcast throughout the Upstate for 23 years, Mr. Russell demonstrated several framing specialties including shadowboxes, needlepoint, and French mats. At one time, Mr. Russell operated a sister business called “Frame-It-Yourself” which offered customers the ability to frame their own projects in a retail workshop environment that pre-dated the do-it-yourself popularity known in many of today’s markets. Upon his retirement, he transitioned ownership of the House of 10,000 Picture Frames which became Laurel Creek Framing and was moved to a location across from Sirrine Stadium.
“Dad valued relationships and always made it a point to know something personal about each of his customers,” says his son, William Russell. “That’s how he became known in the retail picture framing market by treating customers as friends. It was a trait passed down to him from his father-in-law and my grandfather, the late Wyatt Aiken. My dad led by example in his business, church and family. It’s a characteristic that I strive to attain in my life as I embrace the legacy he left us all.”
Mr. Russell was an active member of The Second Presbyterian Church having served as a Deacon and Elder. He was once clerk of the session, chairman of the Christian Education committee, and moderator of Calvary Presbytery.
Mr. Russell is survived by his wife of 53 years, Mary Barnwell Aiken, and four sons: Walter Russell (Marcia), Alan Russell (Mary), Tindell Russell (Myra), and William Russell (Leslie). He was a grandfather to nine grandchildren and great-grandfather to one great-grandson. A memorial service for him was recently held at The Second Presbyterian Church in downtown Greenville.
