| Summary: | Educator Thelma Russell was born in Charleston, Missouri on July 15, 1931. Graduating from Central High School in 1950, she attended St. Francis College, where she studied early childhood education and business. From 1962 to 1970, Russell, working at James Smart School, noticed that children were missing school to take care of their preschool-aged siblings. In 1970, Russell opened The Gingerbread House, the first black owned educational and developmental child-care center in Fort Wayne. In 1990, The Gingerbread House's 20th Anniversary Celebration featured actors/activists Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee. Russell, who retired as executive director of The Gingerbread House in 1999, also served on the board of directors of the Urban League, the Fort Wayne Club and the Fort Wayne Museum of Art. Russell received the Hoosier of the Year Award and the Mayor's 25 Years of Excellence Award from the City of Fort Wayne.
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