Andrew Belle

Andrew Belle of Dothan expired at his residence Saturday, Feb. 16, 2008. He was 88.

The family will receive friends Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2008, from 6-8 p.m. at the Andrew Belle Community Center, 1200 Lake St., Dothan. Funeral services will be held on Thursday, Feb. 21, 2008, at Parks Chapel AME Church, with the Rev. Oliver Allen officiating.

Mr. Andrew Belle was born on May 7, 1919, in Coffee County to the late Josie and Allie Belle. He was the oldest of three siblings.

He met and married the love of his life, Mattie Lee Huntington-Belle, 58 years ago on Aug. 15, 1949. This union was blessed with three beautiful children.

Mr. Belle received his early education in the Coffee County Training School, Enterprise.

He is a 1950 graduate of Tuskegee Institute, now a university, where he was a standout football player majoring in physical education. Belle served his country as a member of the U.S. Army from 1942-1945 and is a World War III veteran. He had an outstanding career of public service. From 1950-1954, he was a teacher and coach in the Ashford Colored High School System. He introduced the game of football to the school and went on to winning sports programs by competing with schools much larger than Ashford. Several of his former players attended college on scholarships. In 1954, Belle became the manager of the Lincoln Community Center. The next 20 years of his life were dedicated to building sports programs, teaching swimming, tennis, baseball and other athletic sports to the over 200 young people who visited the center on a daily basis. In 1973, Belle left his position at the center to become the assistant director of leisure services for the city of Dothan. He remained in this position until his retirement, after 23 years of service, in 1977. Dothan leisure services have twice honored Belle by naming a ball field at A.L. Walton Park and the old Lincoln Center in his name.

His sister, Maylene Shipman, his son, Johnny Jerome Huntington, and his grandson, David Huntington, preceded Mr. Belle in death.

He leaves a legacy of love and memories with his wife, Mattie Lee Huntington-Belle, Dothan; his daughters, Annie Jean Gibson, Enterprise, and Joyce Ann Belle-Simmons, Montgomery; grandchildren, Emmanuel (Tasha) Simmons, Valerie J. Hall, Jeffery E. Gibson, Evelyn J. (Larry) Bonner, Eura Gibson, Johnny Jerome (Dee) Huntington, Michael (Alberta) Huntington, Beverly Settle, Pandra Huntington Grubbs and Baron Huntington; 19 great-grandchildren, 17 great-great-grandchildren; a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends; a special friend, Wallace L. Smith Jr.

Joyce Ann's fondest memories of Daddy: "Daddy loved to dress up and he loved flowers." He was also a man of few words. He always had a handful of Bob's sweet-striped peppermint candy to give to whomever he came in touch with along the way.

Allen Funeral Home, (334) 794-6759, is in charge of arrangements. Sign the guest book at www.dothaneagle.com.