Sharing Memories and More About Our Bell Family

Aug 14, 2024

12 min read

Have you ever wanted to know more about your Bell Family history? Let's learn and share what we remember and what we have been told about our family. Let's uncover the rich heritage of the Bell family, a family that dates back to the late 19th century.

GEORGE ADAMS was born about 1871 in Claiborne Parish, Louisiana

His wife was MISSOURA.

They had 5 children: Mae Otis, Glady Lee, Alphie, Printice and Savannah.

He passed away in December sometime between 1965 and 1970. He was believed to be around 103.

I believe Alphie and Printice have away as children.

Mae Odis Randolph and James Randolph

Glady Adams Watts

Alphie Adams

Printice Adams

Savannah (Two Lee) Levington

Comments from family members about Uncle George Adams:

Almeda Brown Applewhite (daughter of Mollie Bell Brown) "Uncle George used to ride those horses and make them rear up"

Jean Ethel Bell Kendrick (daughter of Union Bell, granddaughter of Tommie Bell, Sr.) "Uncle George was a thin man who lived to be over 100 years old. He ate very little food and always thought we ate too much. He had 3 daughters who lived in Arkansas and his best times was when they came to vist him. He had lots of friends who came to visit him often. He was born before Grandma Bell married Grandpa Bell.

Annie B. Bell Green (daughter of George Bell, Jr.) "I remember Uncle George and also his daughter, Savannah "TwoLee". He was very protective of her. I used to start trouble because I knew that "TwoLee" would fight other kids for me. :)

Mattie Bell Hunter (daughter of Union Bell, granddaughter of Tommie Bell, Sr.) "Uncle George used to tell us a story that went something like this, ' A man was about to be baptized. He had a syrup bucket with biscuit, sausage and syrup in it and was holding it in his hand. The preacher told him to put the bucket down and come into the water. He didn't want to leave it because a dog was getting close. The preacher said 'Come, get introduced to God'. The man said ' God aint got no tete like what's in this bucket'"

Collina "Rikki" Bell Holyfield (daughter of Union Bell, granddaughter of Tommie Bell, Sr.)

"Uncle George lived across the road in Uncle Lonnie and Aunt Willie's house while they lived in California. He always had lemon cookies and cheese and I love that combination to this day. He was very hard of hearing so I had to talk loud "Can I have a cookie?" :). When I was about 5 my job was to go write the number down from his electric meter so they could be turned in to the electric company. I did this once a month and I earned 50 cents which he called 4 bits. When Uncle Lonnie and Aunt Willie moved back to Louisiana, he moved into a house that his brother Plummer Sr had near our house where I lived with Plummer Sr and Shinet George (my maternal grandmother). It was around this time that I started a new job for him. I would give him his medicine everyday. It was a liquid tonic and he wasn't able to hold the spoon without spilling it. I always loved his company. He loved to talk about his children and grandchildren who lived in Camden, AR and he always called me "Ricchard".

ANNIE THRIST BROWNING was born in Louisiana, but spent much of her adult life in Arkansas. She didn't have children, but helped raise several with her husband. She was married to and living with Lewis Thrist in 1910. Around 1960 she had an accident and lost her ability to care for herself. She came to live with her youngest brother, Plummer Sr and his common law wife, Shinet George who took care of her until she passed away in October 1965. She was called Babe.

Lasker Bell Sr. remembered Aunt Babe living in Camden, AR and how she had been married to Mr Browning and helped him raise his children. He said she really loved him and used to make the best peanut butter cookies.

Robert Bell Sr.

Robert Bell Sr and wife Lottie James Bell had 5 children:

John "Shompy John" Bell

Alberta Bell Brown

Gertie Bell Lewis & Celus Lewis (3 children)

Curtis Bell

Noble Bell

Robert Bell Sr and 2nd wife, Mae Willie Randolph Bell had 4 children:

Geneva Bell Rivers

Robert Bell, Jr "Joe" and Sarah G. Bell (4 children)

Trudy Mae Bell Smith & Lester Smith (3 children)

Shady Bell

Almeta Brown Applewhite said that Robert Bell Sr used to make home brew whiskey near a branch and she recalled seeing a still.

Jean Bell Kendrick's comments about Uncle Robert: "He was very old fashioned. He had certain rules that his children had to live by. One of them was that girls could not wear shorts. One day I wore shorts to his house and his daughters told me he would not allow me to wear them at their house. We were standing outside and he had gotten a whip and was sneaking up on me. I saw something in the girls' eyes an that something was not right. I turned around and Uncle Robert had his arm raised and a long whip in his hand. He snapped it and it made the sound of a shot being fired. I ran away and never wore shorts to his house again."

Glenidell Bell Perry (daughter of Union Bell and granddaughter of Tommie Bell Sr) had these memories to share: "When I was young, I was exceptionally skinny. Uncle Robert would be concerned when I would walk because my legs were so skinny. He gave me the nickname, "Olive Oyl" (Popeye's wife) and also bought and gave me a product called Weight-On. In hindsight, I realize how very special that was because I never hear stories where he portrayed love, per se. Ultimately, though the Weight On did not work effectively until now - overly so - finally kicked in - in my 50's. Thanx, Uncle Robert! :)

Tommie Bell Sr., son of George Bell and Mollie Levingston Bell.

TOMMIE BELL SR. was born on May 6, 1880.

Family of TOMMIE BELL SR. & ALMA JAMES BELL

Union Bell

Zannie Lee Bell Thomas

John Almer Bell "Jelly"

Tommie Bell Jr.

Anthony Joshua Bell "Ant"

Family of TOMMIE BELL SR. & FLORA HAY BELL

John T. Mitchell Bell

Jo Ollie Mitchell Bell Watts

Porter Bell, Sr.

Willie T. Bell

Ruthell Bell Marshall

Ethel Bell Coleman

He had Diabetes and passed away on July 1, 1958 at age 78.

Union Bell, Pearlena Hay Bell, Glenidell Bell Perry & Wallace Bell

John Almer Bell, Ethel Bell Coleman, Jo Ollie Mitchell Watts, Willie T Bell

Porter Bell Sr. & Vata Hamilton Bell

Tommie Bell, Jr, Ola Mae Meadors Bell with Tommie III & Joseph

Alice Jean Marzett & Anthony J. Bell

Alma Jean Bell Dailey

Alma Jean is the daughter of John Almer Bell and Minerva Tubbs Bell. She is the granddaughter of Tommie Bell Sr and Alma Jean James Bell. When asked about her grandfather in 2014, he has remembered him this way: "He always had on a suit and it stood out because no one else around did and he wore them daily".

Here is information shared by Alma Jean on the Bell Family Questionaire in 2024:

"My Dad, John Almer Bell was business like. He was friendly and serious. He would say 'I don't lend and I don't borrow'. That was his motto. He lived by that. "My Dad always said "Give him enough rope, he will break his own neck" Dad liked Cube Steak, hot peppers, greens and corn bread. My Dad wore cowboy style boots, riding pants and a cowboy hat. Grandpa Tommie Bell wore nice suits every day. He was friendly, loving and warm. My parents sang and I went to church with them. Dad sang Country Western Music.

My spouse was Cecil Joe Dailey (divorced/deceased) My children are Michael Dailey (deceased), Phyllis Dailey-Watson, Jo-Vonn Dailey, Myra Dailey, Darian Dailey. My siblings are Willie Bell (Babber), Clemmie Thomas Bell, Doris Jean Bell, Delores Bell (deceased), Jimmy Bell (deceased) & Johnnie Bell.

Here are some other comments received in 2014 about Tommie Bell Sr:

Annie B. Bell Green (daughter of George Bell, Jr. "Little George") remembers "Uncle Tommie called me "Baby" and always gave me a nickle every time he saw me.

In 2014 Almeda remembered: Uncle Tommie always had a suit on. I can remember him passing by our house walking in the evening.

Jean Remembered this about her grandfather. "He didn't always wear a tie, but I don't remember ever seeing him in anything other than a pair of dress slacks, shirt and jacket. He only had 3 fingers on one hand. Due to an accident, the middle 2 fingers were missing. He was always punctual for Sunday School and Devotional services. He would walk into church and go immediately to the "Amen" corner (an area designated for deacons). There were nails on the wall and he would hang his hat on one of the nails. He and Uncle Porter (his son) usually led prayer services. I loved to hear them lead the hymns and pray. He loved Cheese Ritz. I saw him at Palmer's store once and he gave me a nickel and told me to go and buy me one. Yippee! He had Diabetes and loved desserts. He had a very productive oil well. During one of his frequent trips to the doctor for his care, he signed away his mineral rights on his land. The well is still pumping oil."

Mattie Bell Hunter (daughter of Union Bell, granddaughter of Tommie Bell Sr)

"Grandpa Tommie was sick when we went to live with him".

Henry Bell (son of Porter Bell, grandson of Tommie Bell Sr) "When were growing up and would look and see him coming to visit, we would run to meet him. We were always glad to see him and hug him"

Lasker Bell remembered that he walked everywhere and really got around.

MAGGIE BELL BROWN

Maggie Bell Brown was married to Archelus Brown.

They had 10 children: Doll, David, Ethel, Joseph, Samuel, Lura, Verda B, Darline, Labar & Nehemiah.

Rikki - She was a seamstress for years and passed away at 96 years of age.

Almeta noted in 2014 that her son, David had recently passed at the age of 104.

MARY WILLIS BELL

Mary Willis who Plummer called Willie had been married to a man named Adams. She had a son named Ash and she died young.

GEORGE W. BELL JR

GEORGE W BELL, JR. " Little George" was born on August 5, 1887

Family of GEORGE W. BELL, JR. & AMANDA BUTLER BELL

Marjorie Bell McGaskey

Pauline Bell Darrett

Annie B. Bell Green

Lois Bell Spence

Jean mentions that he was very well dressed, articulate and had gone to college. She said he was well loved in the community. Jean stated that Aunt "Mandy" was a school teacher and played piano. She managed her daughters singing group. They traveled around to different communities singing and were called The Bell Sisters.

Mary "Billie" (daughter of Union Bell, granddaughter of Tommie Bell Sr.) remembers how meticulous he was about his car. We called him Uncle Little George.

Rikki - I recall that he lived in Homer and would sometimes come out to visit. He would also give a ride to those who got off the Trailways bus in Homer needing a ride to Summerfield (Mt. Sinai). He would always visit family on these trips.

He passed on January 7, 1980. He was 92 years old.

Mattie said she and Mama used to go spend the night with Uncle Little George and Aunt Mandy.

Almeta noted that his daughter Lois was 96 years old in 2014.

Lasker stated "Little George used to drive people around. His wife was a school teacher. He had a farm and would have day workers come and work on the farm. His daughters also worked on the farm."

Annie B said about her dad "I called him the Ladies' man"

MATTIE ANN BELL WILSON

Mattie Ann Bell Wilson was either widowed or divorced when she had her only child, Tommie Bean.

Almeda said she used to do hair. Lasker said she spent time at Aunt Trudie's and they celebrated his birthday there.

She at one time lived near and/or with her sisters who had moved to Arkansas (Annie & Trudie). She may have also lived with her Uncle Alf Levingston and his family in Homer. She was buried at Mt Sinai.

LONNIE BELL, SR. was born on July 27, 1889

Family of LONNIE BELL, SR. & WILLIE HAY BELL

Melvin J. Bell, Sr.

Lonnie Bell, Jr.

Plummer Bell, Jr. "Sugar Boo"

Louis Bell, Sr. "Buster"

They also raised their granddaughter, Pattie Sue Bell Kyle. Their grandsons, Famios and Louis also lived with them for many years.

Lonnie Bell Sr. served in World War I. His ship went to France. He played the bugle which was a stand out position in his military company. In the early 40's as a young preacher, he and his family moved to San Francisco where they started Bell Chapel CME Church. He and Willie Hay Bell worked there for the government. Upon retiring in the late 60's they moved back to Louisiana.

He passed away on November 3, 1976. He was 87 years old.

TRUDIE BELL SANDERS was born in April 1891

TRUDIE BELL SANDERS married WILLIAM "Roof" H. SANDERS possibly in 1922

Records show that Aunt Trudie was living in Lafayette, AR in 1920 with her sister, Annie "Babe" and her husband, Lewis Thrist.

In 1930 and 1940 she was living in what is now called Camden, AR with her husband, William "Roof" Sanders.

Rikki: I remember us (Plummer Bell, Sr., Shinet George and me) visiting her in Camden. Once I recall Aunt Mae Willie Randolph Bell and my Daddy, Union Bell driving there with us. Not far from her house, I believe there was a store run by Uncle "Roof"'s son. I don't remember his name. At one time I believe that Aunt Mattie Bell Wilson and Aunt Annie "Babe" Thrist Browning both lived with Aunt Trudie and her husband. I know this is where Aunt Babe was before coming back to Louisiana to live with us. In the latter years of her life Aunt Trudie also came back to Louisiana and lived with Aunt Callie Bell Washingston until she passed away. I don't have a record of her death.

PLUMMER BELL, SR was born on August 10, 1894

He was married to ULA HAY. He served in World War I and was stationed at Camp Grant, IL.

He was in common law marriage for many years to SHINET GEORGE. He helped raise her daughter, Eleze Birch Bell, Eleze's daughters, Willie Drew Bell Kemp and Vata Mae Bell Cheatum. He and Shinet George had a son, Pongee who passed at age 12. They had an empty nest in 1959 when they took another of Shinet's grandchildren. That was me, Rikki, Pearlena Hay Bell and Union Bell's youngest daughter.

Like most of his brothers he had started out working for his father. In later years he had his own smaller farm and had horses at one time. I was told that he was a rowdy guy in his young days and as the youngest son, he may have been spoiled. What I remember is him being quiet, kind of a loner. He raised cows; Herefords and Jerseys. Although he was a sportsman, he was also much like his brother, George Bell, Jr in the way he was about his vehicles and how he dressed when he went out. He bred and hunted Redbone Coonhounds and was an avid hunter and fisherman. He passed away on June 6, 1974 at 79 years old.

CALLIE BELL WASHINGTON was born on April 22, 1896

Family of CALLIE BELL WASHINGTON & W. SAMUEL WASHINGTON

Samuel Washington

Evelyn Washington Green

Deatro Washington Thompson

Regnold Washington

Booker Washington

Cloteil Washington

Reiso Washington

Ardis Washington

Prentis Washington

Alice Washington

Larce Washington

Callie and Sam Washington lived and raised their children in Beech Hill, the Lisbon area. They moved to Mt Sinai around 1960.

Rikki: Plummer would take us there for dinner some Sundays. Anyone who ate there remembers her famous Egg Custard.

Aunt Callie passed away on April 30, 1998. She was 102 years old.

MOLLIE BELL BROWN was born on April 30, 1899.

Family of MOLLIE BELL BROWN & GEORGE BROWN, SR.

Jethro Brown

Excel Brown

Almeda Brown Applewhite

Exzetter Brown Gatlin

Clinton Brown

Beatrice Brown Johnson

Dorothy Brown

George Brown, Jr.

Esther Brown Hay

Rikki: I remember Aunt Mollie well and what I remember is that she was very soft spoken and sweet.

She passed away on August 29, 1998. She was 99 years old.

Jean Ethel Bell Kendrick is the daughter of Union Bell and Pearlena Hay Bell. Her paternal grandparents were Tommie Bell Sr and Alma James Bell. Her maternal grandparents were Gent Hay Sr and Shinet George.

Jean shared this information from the 2024 Bell Family questionaire:

mama said her dad was handsome, crazy about her

Grandpa George Bell had a lot of land

and hired workers.

He had many fruit orchards

Daddy was his chauffeur.

Grandma Bell was very strict with her grandchildren.

Tom Bell Sr

Dad said Grandma Bell and Grandpa Bell were hard workers.

Grandpa Tommie was very faithful about church. He was a deacon. He had Diabetes and he had a girlfriend in his 80's.

My mom was kind, loving and she was funny. She was also pretty and said that her dad was very handsome and loved her a lot.

My dad was a stern disciplinarian, but believed in education and hard work for his offsprings.