John Wesley Bell

1922 - 2018

John Wesley Bell (95) was born November 3, 1922 in Birmingham, Alabama to the late Willie Bell and Ceola Brown Bell Addison. He was the second son born to this loving union, and he accepted Christ at an early age. His older brother, William Ealy and step-brother, Ed Henry Addison, are both deceased. John completed his elementary and secondary education in the Birmingham Public School System where he graduated from Parker Industrial High School. He earned his educational certification from the University of Alabama at Birmingham with an emphasis in Vocational Education. He was united in holy matrimony to Luvenia Little (deceased). From this union, one daughter, Marsha Dianne Bell Little (Jimmy, deceased), and two sons, the Honorable William A. Bell, Sr. (Sharon), Michael H. Bell, Sr. (Gwendolyn) were born. John later married Eva Flowers Bell, and had one step-daughter, Yvette Green. During World War II, he enlisted in the United States Army March 8, 1943 and served as Sergeant First Class with Supply Unit 3456 under the Command of General George S. Patton and the European Theater in Belgium and France until December 15, 1945. He received the World War II Victory Medal, American Service Medal, European African Middle Eastern Service Medal and Four Bronze Stars. Sergeant Bell re-enlisted in the U. S. Army on June 13, 1949 to serve in the Korean War. He was honorably discharged February 3, 1953. After completion of his military duty, Sergeant Bell returned home to Birmingham and found employment at Southern Railroad. He also took classes to receive training in brick masonry. After several years as a brick mason, he was called upon to teach the trade he had mastered and was offered a job as Masonry Instructor at Gadsden State Technical College. Subsequently, he was offered a teaching position in the Trade School at Lawson State Community College. He was later named Chairman of Lawson State Vocational Building Department where he retired in 1984 after many years of sacrifice and service to his country, his community and to the citizens of Birmingham, Alabama. He was involved in many civic and social organizations including the Birmingham Boating and Fishing Club, the OWLS, the Family Group, and the Courtesy Guild at Saint John AME Church. He was president of the Pine Avenue Neighborhood Association. He also was a member of other various professional and educational organizations that included the Alabama Retired Teachers Association and the Alabama Education Association. John was an avid fisherman, hunter and outdoorsman who loved to spend time at his farm in Selma. He loved to plant anything – vegetables, flowers, and trees, he assisted others to establish several urban vegetable gardens in southwest Birmingham. John joined New Mount Zion Baptist Church under the pastorate of Reverend John Mason and continued to serve as a proud member and Deacon under the leadership of Reverend Cedric Small. Due to failing health, John later resided at Colonel Robert L. Howard Veterans Home in Pell City until his passing on March 20, 2018. In addition to being survived by his wife, Eva and children, he leaves to mourn his five grandchildren, Felicia R. Best, Judge William A. Bell, Jr. (Dr. Emily Bell); Michael H. Bell, Jr. (Denise Bell); Jillian J. Bell, (fianc Dr. Stephen Wood); Dr. Marcus H. Bell (Atty. Kimberly Bell), and six great grandchildren: Bianca Walker, Gabrielle Walker, William "Trey" Bell, Ethan Bell, Marcus Bell, Jr., Matthew Bell, and a host of nephews, nieces, cousins, and other special relatives, friends, church members, and loving neighbors.