Helen Bell

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.

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.

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.

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 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...

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...

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...

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.