NATCHEZ — When Suzi Russ died Friday morning at the age of 72, she left behind a legacy of women who say her influence as a coach impacted their lives forever.

Russ was a dance teacher and coach for Natchez High School and South Natchez from 1968 until 1997, leading the Rebelettes, Colonel’s Ladies, and Lady Blues dance teams through the years.

Russ’ daughter, Julie Simmons, danced as a member of the team throughout her high school career, serving as Sargent Major of the Colonel’s Ladies for the 1985-1986 school year.

“She said, ‘Just because you’re my daughter, this isn’t going to be given to you. You’ll have to work extra hard to earn this position,’” Simmons said. “And I did. She had to be a little tougher on me than others because I was her daughter, I guess. But it was a good thing, a positive thing. My mom gave me a lot of strength. She taught me how to be a leader.”

Simmons said her mother was tough on the field, but gentle at home.

“With my friends, she would just sit with us and laugh with us and listen to our problems,” Simmons said. “But then, back in the gym, she was strict and demanding — and we knew the difference between Coach Suzi and Suzi at home. And we loved both.”

Her mother inspired her to pursue her passions in whatever way she could, Simmons said. She directed her love of dance into a career as an exercise specialist.

“I wouldn’t be if not for my mom and what she taught me,” Simmons said. “She’s going to be missed by a lot of people. She touched a lot of people’s lives. She’s going to be dancing in heaven.”

Kappi Rushing, a former captain of the Lady Blues, said the coach was a second mother and a dear friend.

“Whether it was Rebelettes, Colonel’s Ladies, or the Lady Blues, those are just different names for different eras,” Rushing said. “In general, we were all ‘Suzi’s Girls.’”

Rushing, who graduated from Natchez High School in 1996, said Russ taught her to become more confident.

“Mrs. Russ was like a second mother to about 30 girls,” she said. “She gave us advice and she taught us responsibility. We were accountable to her for our actions on the dance team and in life in general.”

The community of “Suzi’s Girls” still stays in touch, even using a Facebook page by that name, Rushing said.

“It’s funny, even people that were older or younger than you, everybody knows who was Suzi’s Girls,” she said.

Rushing said one of the reasons Russ’ students loved her was because of her toughness and high expectations.

“She knew what was expected us, and nobody wanted to disappoint her,” Rushing said. “Everyone that danced for her wanted nothing more than a compliment from her. She was, by far, one of a kind. We lost an icon when she passed away yesterday. She will forever hold a huge place in my heart.”

Even Russ’ sons, Kurt and Chandler Russ, were deeply involved in their mother’s passion for her dance students.

The oldest of Russ’ three children, Kurt Russ, said his passion for football exposed him to his mother’s life on the field.

“I always joked with my dad before he passed away, ‘The only reason you came to my football games is because Mom made you come to watch her girls dance,’” Kurt Russ said. “I don’t know how to explain it, it was part of what was bred into us and we just rolled with it.”

Kurt Russ said he is constantly reminded of his mother’s impact on the community.

“I’m almost 50 years-old,” Kurt Russ said. “I bump into people all the time who were old Colonel’s Ladies that used to babysit us. It was a big part of our lives. It’s a testament to anybody as their legacy.”