Elizabeth R Bell

84 years, 4 months and 15 days ago a child, Elizabeth Richardson, was born in Ferriday, Louisiana to Martin Richardson and Mary Lee Dawn. Elizabeth was the third of five daughters: Clarise Mingee Burks (preceded in death), Reverend Beatrice Anderson McFall, Bessie Lee Richardson (preceded in death), and Fannie Rose Washington Simmons. Unable to walk Beatrice carried Elizabeth on her hip till at 3 years old she stood up to bring her big sister a piece of her homemade mud pie. She was then on the move. By the grace of God the family relocated from the brutalities of racism on Louisianan plantations to live and work as sharecroppers in Arkansas. When Elizabeth was 8 years old her family moved again to St. Louis, Missouri where she met her best childhood friend and sister, Margaret Pitchford “Aunt Sweet.” The union of Elizabeth Richardson and John Pitchford (preceded in death) produced her first child Jacqueline R. Walker. In March 1957, Elizabeth and her eight year old little girl moved to Las Vegas, Nevada, to join her sister and best friend Bessie where she met and fell head-over-hills for Lawyer Bell Sr., (preceded in death). From that union were born Lionel Bell, Michael D. Bell (d. 2018), Sharon L. Bell, Patricia A. Patton Perkins, Lawyer Bell Jr., and she would also raise Richard Bell, her beloved grandson. As a widower for the next forty years Elizabeth Bell would watch her children grow up, marry, forge careers, divorce, live, love, struggle and have families of their own. In all she had 28 grandchildren that she leaves in the hands of God from oldest to youngest: Nina R. Abram, Aaron L. Roberts (d. 2005), Shannon D. Johnson, Phoenix Dodé Johnson, Richard Bell, Malcolm J. Abram, Alicia Davis, Donald Patton Jr, Christopher Bell, Asyia S. Walker, David Patton, Keshina Bell, Keyshon Bell, Tasha Bell, Patrick Beverly, Nikki Bell, Ashley Bell, Lawyer Bell 3rd, Lamar Bell, Brandon Johnson, Jonathan Bell, Kanessa Bell, Amber Bell, Patrick Patton (d. 2017), and Joshua Bell. In addition Elizabeth had 30 great grandchildren and one great, great grandchild. There are numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, neighbors and friends that walked with her in this life until she breathed her last. To name a few: Mrs. Maybell, Ms. Louis and Mrs. Louvesta Hayes her closest friend and road-dawg who preceded her in death. Elizabeth Bell left this life headed to glory on July 19, 2018 accompanied by her cousin/brother, Robert Jackson who passed the same day. In the midst of her fight with lung cancer Elizabeth never lost her life force. She was a force of nature. She had a strong constitution. As a child she accepted Jesus Christ as her Savior, but it would be decades before he became her Lord. Thirty years ago she began to walk with the Lord Jesus Christ. Her eldest sister Bea rejoiced in God’s answer to prayer. Elizabeth was a warrior for the Lord. Her mission in life was to help the down trodden, unloved, homeless, and hungry. She was out doing for those who didn’t know how to pray for themselves. She took people to their doctor’s appointments, social security offices, food banks, grocery stores and anywhere they needed to go. She never turned anyone away. Her heart wouldn’t let her. She filled up her tank every day so she could help someone in need. She did it quietly without fanfare. It was all to the glory of God. During this time, if you talked with her, you prayed with her. She was a prayer partner to many all over the country, family, neighbors and friends. She loved to read the Bible and drive to Sunrise Mountain to pray and gaze at God’s glory. Her last words to her oldest daughter were “I’m ready to go home. I’m just waiting on the Father.” Thursday morning she got out of that sickbed and rose up to meet her Lord.

Elizabeth R Bell

March 4, 1934 - July 19, 2018