[4][5] Claudia was born to September 2, 1950 to Claud and Margie Russell in Altus, Oklahoma.

Later, she became executive director of Health for Friends, a non-profit agency that provides prenatal, chronic disease, pharmacy, and dental services to underserved and indigent people.

[6] Her obituary notes that Claudia was one of the first Oklahomans to volunteer as a medical responder after the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995.

She became notable for authoring and supporting legislation to help survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence, developing public-private partnership business opportunities and overcoming equal access for the elderly and disabled in the state.

[6] The OUDaily newspaper announced on July 20, 2018, that Oklahoma University School of Public Health had established an endowed scholarship in her honor.