Mr. Joe Lynn Bell

Mr. Joe Lynn Bell, 82, of Canon, GA passed away on Monday, December 8, 2025, at Hartwell Health and Rehabilitation Center.

Mr. Bell was born in Elberton, GA on December 1, 1943, son of the late Alvin Bell and the late Lola Ruff Bell. He was a foreman having worked for Joel Turner Construction and was a faithful member of Canon Baptist Church.

One thing that stayed constant throughout Lynn's life was his willingness to serve others. His servant heart was one that never ceases to amaze. Throughout Lynn's life, he volunteered and served at church. He was a deacon at Canon Baptist, as well as a worship leader, and youth leader for many years. Whenever the church doors were open, you knew that Lynn would be there, ready to help in any way that he could. He brought the willingness to serve outside of the church doors as well. Whenever his wife, Doris Bell, was in the nursing home, he would lead worship for the residents there to spread a little bit of the Gospel that he believed was the most important power to receive. His servant heart didn't go unnoticed throughout his church, community, and family.

If there was one thing Lynn loved most in this world, it was his family. He loved going to breakfast with them on Saturday mornings and a lot of times, he wouldn't say one sentence while he was sitting at the table, he loved being around them and seeing them smile and laugh. In a lot of ways, he was the background character, but that's where he wanted to be. If his family and others were okay, he was okay. He didn't care about the center of attention, instead he wanted others to have the spotlight, demonstrating the true quality of humility.

He also loved cheering on his boys at the baseball field, which meant getting to the baseball field three hours early to watch them warm-up. To his boys, he was known as "Diddy." Diddy would have the biggest smile on his face watching his grandkids play. Nothing meant more than a, "you did good bud," from Diddy after he would replay the game in his head, saying, "Why are we throwing this? Why didn't you swing at that?" In light of it all, he was so proud of kids and grandkids and made sure they knew how proud he was of them.

Lynn "Diddy" Bell was a man loved by many and made an impact on many. He was gentle, kind, compassionate, humble, hardworking, and most of all a servant of the Holy God that we serve. He is in a better place with Jesus and his wife, Doris. He lived a fruitful life that his family and others are for sure proud of.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Doris Bennett Bell.

Survivors include his son, Derrick Bell of Canon; daughters, Narci Bell of Canon, and Penny and Russell Gailey of Lavonia, GA; grandsons, Lawson Gailey and Easton Gailey; brother, Bud Bell of Vesta, GA; and sisters, Martha Ann Harden of Jamestown, NC, Charlotte Johnson, Jerolyn Almond and Patsy Suttles all of Elberton, GA.

Funeral services for Mr. Bell will be held in the Canon Baptist Church at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 11, 2025, with Rev. Mitch Brooks, Rev. Paul Creason, Mr. Jason Oliver, Mr. Easton Gailey, Rev. Chris Chitwood and Rev. Erik Smith officiating. Interment will follow in the Bowers Memorial Park in Canon.

The family will receive friends at Canon Baptist Church from 12:30 p.m. until funeral hour on Thursday afternoon. During other times, the family will be at the home of Penny and Russell Gailey.

Flowers are optional; memorials may be made to the Canon Baptist Church Building Fund.

Pruitt Funeral Home in Royston, GA is in charge of arrangements.