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Helen Bell Obituary
Born in Miami on June 22, 1916, to Elmer and Louise Norris, Helen moved to Montgomery, Alabama, at a young age and remained in Alabama most of her life until moving to Black Mountain in 2003 when her health declined. She earned BA and MA degrees at the University of Alabama and worked towards her PhD at Duke University. In addition to her career as an English professor at Huntingdon College in Montgomery, Helen was an accomplished author, publishing five novels, four books of short fiction, and two volumes of poetry. She was a finalist for the PEN/Faulkner Award and the Los Angeles Times Fiction Award. In addition, she received five O'Henry Awards, a Pushcart Prize, two Andrew Lytle Awards, as well as other literary honors. She was elected Poet Laureate of Alabama in 1999, had two stories adapted for HBO movies, and read for the Library of Congress twice. Her stories have been translated into Chinese, Polish, Dutch, and Tamil.
Helen is survived by her son, Tom and his wife, Martha; grandsons, Tommy Bell and wife Amanda, Stuart Bell and wife Courtney, and Wilson Bell; and five great-grandchildren.
A memorial service to celebrate Helen's life will be held at Highland Farms Chapel on January 25 at 3:00.
Memorials may be made to Givens-Highland Farms Employee Appreciation Fund, c/o Bob Miller, 18 Wagon Trail, Black Mountain, NC 28711.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Helen Bell
P.T. Paul
December 2, 2013
We have lost not just a wonderful and accomplished writer, but also an amazing human being. Her life will serve as an inspiration to countless others.
Jay Lamar
December 1, 2013
The world has lost an original, brilliant writer and person. As Andrew writes, she was sly and hilarious. And as Jeanie notes, she was richly deserving of every award and recognition. There is no one else like her, and we are poorer for her passing, but what an honor and pleasure to have known her.
Rick Byrd
December 1, 2013
Helen Bell was the only English professor I ever had at Huntingdon. She was a kind and wonderful teacher. She had a marvelous gift for encouraging students without overstating their talent or understating their desire. We have lost a beautiful soul.
Laura Rogers
December 1, 2013
Martha, what an enduring legacy your mother has left. I am so sorry for your loss. She obviously touched and inspired many lives. You and your family were blessed.
Laura Rogers
Helen Bell, Huntingdon College, English Dept., 1977
November 29, 2013
Allen Woodman
November 29, 2013
Helen Bell was a wonderful writer and teacher. As a teacher, she made you feel that what you had to say was important...she gave you the confidence to believe in yourself because she believed in you. She made you want to go out in the world and do great things, just so you could make Ms. Bell proud. She was a model for doing all things in life with good humor, intellectual curiosity, and a kind heart. I know my life would have been totally different if I had not had Ms. Bell as my teacher and friend. Words sort of fail me here...there are good moments in life...I wish you could see the movie in my mind of how magical it was to be at Huntingdon College in the seventies and have Ms. Bell as your favorite professor.
Joe Whitten
November 29, 2013
Helen was one of the most delightful women I have known. She once talked to me about death, and said, "Joe, are you going to be cooked or in a box?" And there was the year she gave her Poet Laureate's report to the Alabama Writers' Conclave and said, “I haven't done much this year, but what I have done has been in iambic pentameter.” I missed her very much after she moved to North Carolina, but Gail and I were able to visit her two times. She was sharp and delightful to visit with, even in the nursing home. You will be missed, Helen.
Mary Kate Dean
November 28, 2013
I was fortunate to have Ms. Bell as a professor for every semester of my 4 years at Huntingdon. She used to comment that she didn't know how to teach, which always surprised me because she was the best teacher I ever had. I loved her classes. I loved the lines from Shakespeare that she had us memorize because, she said, it would give us comfort if we ever found ourselves in solitary confinement. Her sense of humor was delightful, as was her appearance on cold mornings when she had some throat lozenges that turned her tongue a bright green. When I was getting my M.A.in English, I was so pleased to find myself very well prepared in all my literature classes, and I recognized that she was the source for much of this prior knowledge. I remember the way she talked about Beowulf, and the day she asked me if I believed in angels. I will miss her absence in this world where she guided me toward greater understanding and enjoyment.
Mary Halliburton
November 28, 2013
Helen Bell was my mentor. I loved driving her to our many meetings and listening to her stories. She anchored a small group of poets and writers we called The Kitchen Poets. She was the best and smartest of us all. Helen will live on in her wonderful words.
George Suttle
November 27, 2013
As others have noted, Helen Bell was a wonderful teacher. I still remember having to appear in her office on 3rd Flowers, to demonstrate command of some Shakespearian soliloquy by reciting it aloud. I wonder how many teachers these days assign something like this, or make the time to ensure it's been done? Forgive the casual "it's," Mrs. Bell. Thanks to you, I know better.
Jeanie Thompson
November 27, 2013
Helen was one of the first great Alabama writers I got to know once I became involved in the Alabama Writers' Forum. Her short stories are perfection, and her humor was boundless. I was so honored to work with her on an essay she contributed to The Remembered Gate: Memoirs by Alabama Writers, edited with Jay Lamar. Helen was also one of the early unanimous choices for the Harper Lee Award for Alabama's Distinguished Writers of the Year. What a thrill to be with her in Monroeville when she received that honor. But my favorite story about Helen is taking her to the set of "The Cracker Man" where it was being filmed on Wire Road in Auburn. "They aren't interested in the writers," she said. Once there, she was the Queen of the May and everyone loved having her as a part of the filming.
John Frandsen
November 27, 2013
Helen, you were truly one of a superb kind who did Alabama proud as our Poet Laureate. With your passing, those of us who were your associates in the Alabama Writers Conclave have lost an irreplaceable friend and mentor.
Andrew Hudgins
November 27, 2013
In addition to being a wonderful writer, Mrs. Bell was one the great teachers--smart, dedicated, incisive, and very slyly funny--and a great character as well. I will never forget her kindness, encouragement, and thoughtfulness or her presence as an artist and delightful personality.
Marie Stutts
November 26, 2013
I had the privilege to know Helen and have her so ever briefly as a mentor. I loved her dry wit and wonderful sense of humor. I know she is making the angels laugh in heaven as she made us laugh with joy here.
Richard Anderson
November 26, 2013
May your pen sing forever among the poets on Parnassus, Helen.
November 26, 2013
Helen was a dear friend who encouraged me in my writing.
Karen Nikula
November 26, 2013
I had the singular pleasure of being in one of Mrs. Bell's classes at Huntingdon College. She was a truly unique individual & brilliant teacher. Thank you so much, Mrs. Bell, for the selfless sharing of your knowledge and wit.
Carolyn Glenn-Blackstock
November 26, 2013
I was fortunate to have Helen Bell as one of my English professors at Huntingdon. I adored her, and I learned so much from her. The world has lost such a classy, erudite lady.
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