Obituary for Willie James Bell Sr.
HIS LEGACY
WILLIE JAMES BELL, SR
January 31, 1926- February 12,2021
Willie James Bell, Sr., born January 31, 1926, in Plateau, AL to the late Swep and Mary Elizabeth Bell. He fell asleep in death February 12, 2021, at the age of ninety-five years old in his home with his family. He was preceded in death by the love of his life wife Martha Lee Williams Bell of 62 years, his parents, grandsons Jermaine Valtez Odom and Brandon James Crawford, brothers: Robert Bell, Leroy Bell Sr., Melvin Bell Sr., and Swep Bell Jr., sisters: Laura B. Colley and Agnes D. Crenshaw.
Willie graduated from Mobile County Training High School. Early in life he worked as a Shoemaker where he met his beloved wife. He served in the United States Navy, Brookley Air Force Base, and as a Merchant Marine (Seaman) with over thirty-five years of service with the Federal Government.
Willie learned about Jehovah God and his son Jesus Christ as a young man. He believed in God’s promise of a Paradise (New World) on earth to come. He regularly attended Christian meeting of Jehovah Witnesses via Zoom.
Willie loved and cherished his family. He was fondly known as Bell Boy, Daddy, Granddaddy, and Uncle Willie. He was an intelligent man with great insight. He had an outgoing personality, he loved to laugh and joke with family and friends which made it a delight to be around him. He is known for using his tools and duct tape for repairing almost everything around the home. He enjoyed relaxing in his recliner watching baseball, western movies and HGTV.
Willie was a well-dressed man known for wearing tailored suits, pressed crisp shirts, Kangol hats and well-polished shiny shoes that you could see your reflection.
Willie James Bell Sr. will be greatly missed by all those who had an opportunity to know him. His fun-loving “cool” demeanor, vast wisdom, encouraging words, inviting smile, and a fist-bump followed by “what’s up homeboy” or “how you doing’ homeboy.” His loving personality will be greatly cherished and missed.
He leaves to cherish his memories a devoted family, a loving daughter, Mary (Melvin) Odom of Mobile Al; three sons: Willie (Shalonda) Bell Jr., of Anchorage, AK, Gregory (Audrey -fiancée) Bell of Kodiak, AK, and Carlos (Lucrisia- fiancée) Bell of Mobile Al; six grandchildren: Sabrina (Albert) Chaney of Mobile, Al, Brandi Odom of Kalamazoo, Mi, Arthur Odom Jr. of Charleston, SC, Willie Bell III of Anchorage, AK, Deonta Dallas of Hummelstown, PA and Jakeil Bell of Anchorage AK, seven great-grandchildren: Breland Chaney of Charleston, SC, Sabria Chaney of Mobile, Al, La’Niyah Bell of Anchorage, AK, Arthur Odom III of Charleston, SC, Audrianna Dallas of Hummelstown, PA, JaiVari Bell and Carlos Bell of Anchorage, AK; one sister Geneva Runderson of Mobile, AL , a “like” son Darren Moore of Mobile, AL; he also leaves to cherish a host of loving and devoted nieces, nephews, other relatives and friend .
WILLIE JAMES BELL, SR
January 31, 1926- February 12,2021
Willie James Bell, Sr., born January 31, 1926, in Plateau, AL to the late Swep and Mary Elizabeth Bell. He fell asleep in death February 12, 2021, at the age of ninety-five years old in his home with his family. He was preceded in death by the love of his life wife Martha Lee Williams Bell of 62 years, his parents, grandsons Jermaine Valtez Odom and Brandon James Crawford, brothers: Robert Bell, Leroy Bell Sr., Melvin Bell Sr., and Swep Bell Jr., sisters: Laura B. Colley and Agnes D. Crenshaw.
Willie graduated from Mobile County Training High School. Early in life he worked as a Shoemaker where he met his beloved wife. He served in the United States Navy, Brookley Air Force Base, and as a Merchant Marine (Seaman) with over thirty-five years of service with the Federal Government.
Willie learned about Jehovah God and his son Jesus Christ as a young man. He believed in God’s promise of a Paradise (New World) on earth to come. He regularly attended Christian meeting of Jehovah Witnesses via Zoom.
Willie loved and cherished his family. He was fondly known as Bell Boy, Daddy, Granddaddy, and Uncle Willie. He was an intelligent man with great insight. He had an outgoing personality, he loved to laugh and joke with family and friends which made it a delight to be around him. He is known for using his tools and duct tape for repairing almost everything around the home. He enjoyed relaxing in his recliner watching baseball, western movies and HGTV.
Willie was a well-dressed man known for wearing tailored suits, pressed crisp shirts, Kangol hats and well-polished shiny shoes that you could see your reflection.
Willie James Bell Sr. will be greatly missed by all those who had an opportunity to know him. His fun-loving “cool” demeanor, vast wisdom, encouraging words, inviting smile, and a fist-bump followed by “what’s up homeboy” or “how you doing’ homeboy.” His loving personality will be greatly cherished and missed.
He leaves to cherish his memories a devoted family, a loving daughter, Mary (Melvin) Odom of Mobile Al; three sons: Willie (Shalonda) Bell Jr., of Anchorage, AK, Gregory (Audrey -fiancée) Bell of Kodiak, AK, and Carlos (Lucrisia- fiancée) Bell of Mobile Al; six grandchildren: Sabrina (Albert) Chaney of Mobile, Al, Brandi Odom of Kalamazoo, Mi, Arthur Odom Jr. of Charleston, SC, Willie Bell III of Anchorage, AK, Deonta Dallas of Hummelstown, PA and Jakeil Bell of Anchorage AK, seven great-grandchildren: Breland Chaney of Charleston, SC, Sabria Chaney of Mobile, Al, La’Niyah Bell of Anchorage, AK, Arthur Odom III of Charleston, SC, Audrianna Dallas of Hummelstown, PA, JaiVari Bell and Carlos Bell of Anchorage, AK; one sister Geneva Runderson of Mobile, AL , a “like” son Darren Moore of Mobile, AL; he also leaves to cherish a host of loving and devoted nieces, nephews, other relatives and friend .