Hope Bell

Olive Hope Williams Bell, began her life journey in Hamlet, North Carolina June 28, 1923. She married the love of her life Fred Jefferson Bell in 1941. They moved to Marvin Street in Elizabethtown four years later. She spent hours working in her yard and her love of flowers goes back to her mother. She was an active member of Trinity United Methodist Church Sunday School Class and Circle. Her love of crochet, knitting, and sewing made her the perfect one to help begin a prayer shawl ministry at Trinity. She also wrote the benediction that the ladies would read after each meeting. "May the works of our hands and thoughts  in our hearts be pleasing to You and bring warmth, comfort and pleasure to those who receive them." By Hope Bell.

Hope also made the sweetest baby blanket out of flannel with fine crocheted edges. She was always making something special for her family or someone else. Her hands were never idle. There aren't words to describe this precious wife, mother, Gramma and friend. Hope was the perfect example of the virtuous woman in Proverbs 31.

She was predeceased by her parents: Arthur P. Williams and Roxie McDonald Williams, husband Fred J. Bell, three sisters: Wini, Cat, and Adelaide, and one grandson, Jimmy Brigman. Ms. Bell leaves behind three daughters: Jane Dodson, Patti Suggs, and Ruth Harrelson (Paul), all of Elizabethtown; one son, David Bell (Annette) of White Oak; six grandchildren: Patricia Watkins (Glenn), Barbara Brigman, Ben Suggs (Karen) Jeremy Harrelson, Allyson Priest (Brandon), Joanna Stewart (Kevin), and 11 great grandchildren: Trista, Thad, Tyler, CJ, Alyssa, Reid, Hartleigh, Kaety, Ryen, Jake, and Nate.

The family will receive friends from 6-8 pm on Sunday, May 12 at Bladen Gaskins Funeral Home in Elizabethtown. A funeral service will be held on Monday, May 13 at 3 pm at Trinity United Methodist Church in Elizabethtown with Rev. Jay Winston officiating. Burial will follow the services in Old Trinity United Methodist Church Cemetery in Elizabethtown. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the Old Trinity United Methodist Church Cemetery, 901 W. Broad St., Elizabethtown or Liberty Hospice, 44 McNeill Plaza, Whiteville, NC 28472.

The family would like to express their sincere gratitude to her caretaker Pat Carroll and  Christie Bowen, nurse with hospice.