 She worked in Changsha from 1919 to 1924, and later from 1928 to 1930, and again in 1932 to 1933.When Changsha was invaded by the revolutionary army of Chiang Kai-shek in 1930, Russell refused to leave the city and was mistakenly thought to have perished; a memorial service was held for her.During the 1930s, a turbulent and dangerous time to work in China during civil war and war with Japan, she worked mainly at the headquarters of the YWCA in Shanghai.