Homegoing Services for Deacon Ben C. Bell, Sr. are as follows:

Memorial Visitation

Friday, September 25, 2020 - 6pm - 7:30pm

East 17st St. Church of God In Christ

1639 E University Ave.
Des Moines, IA 50316

Homegoing Celebration

Saturday, September 26, 2020 - 11am

Elim/ Hope

2500 University Ave.
Des Moines, IA 50311

Parking is limited at the church. You are welcome to park at the Holiday Inn in the West lot .

CDC guidelines will be followed with masks required during the Memorial Visitation and Homegoing Celebration Services. Social distancing is encouraged.

Family will receive guests at 2919 39th Street - Des Moines, Iowa 50310; the home of Jerome and Mary Austin and 4125 45th Street - Des Moines Iowa 50310; the home of  Dr. Ben C., Jr. and Julie Bell.

*Flowers can be sent to Henderson’s Highland Park Funeral Home.*

*Due to COVID-19, food donations WILL NOT be received for Saturday's repast. Food will be catered. If you would like to send a monetary gift to assist in feeding please contact: Missionary Denise Collier at (515) 480-0991 for further details.*

 

Benjamin Cecil Bell, Sr.   was born on May 9, 1937 in Lexington Tennessee, to the parentage of Everidge and Drucilla Bell.

Ben attended grade school, but times were hard. He had to drop out by his 7th birthday due to both his parents being deceased. Ben was raised by his Uncle Jake Bryant, and Aunt    Jessie, and also with the help of his oldest sister, Annie Lee.  Ben worked hard all of his adolescence, but found time to fall in love with a short basketball player in Crockett County, named Clymontine Steward. Ben had his eye on her. She was going to Tennessee State  University on a scholarship and he was going to continue working, but God had other plans.  After they cut the women’s basketball program, Clymontine quit school and the loving couple was joined in holy matrimony.  Following the wedding, the two honeymooned in their  favorite spot, Des Moines, Iowa, and never left.

Ben began a career at the Foundry in West Des Moines.  He later moved to Eagle Iron Works and ended up at Purelli Armstrong; where he retired after serving for 34 years.

After moving to Iowa, ‘Dad Bell’, (as he was known), joined Morning Star Missionary Baptist Church, under the leadership of Pastor Alex Crawford, Jr.  He moved on to Grace Memorial Church of God in Christ, under the late Pastor, O. J. Johnson, Sr.  Shortly thereafter, he joined East 17th Street Church of God in Christ under the late Bishop, J. E. Abernathy.  Dad Bell would continue to serve faithfully under Bishop Abernathy’s successors: the late Bishop Louis Henry Ford, then he was pastored by the late Superintendent, Richard L. Daye, and the Honorable late Bishop, Hurley Bassett, Sr. For the past 13 years he has been pastored by his youngest son, Dr. M. Anthony Bell.  Dad Bell served on the Usher Board for quite a while and then he became “The Deacon”.  He was truly a Deacon and committed his life to his church.  He was Honored as the Senior Deacon and remained in that capacity until his death.

This very quiet and meek spirited man loved God, loved his wife, loved his family, and genuinely just loved all people to the point that people could not get enough of this nice man. Dad Bell’s interests were his wife and children,  his church and the community; in that order. He plainly loved people and enjoyed being a part of their lives. He was an excellent demolition man; you name it, he could destroy it, but duct tape was his fix all. He loved hunting, fishing and being around his kids. The more he had around, the better he felt.  He loved watching his children play basketball.  Sweet potato pie, beans and cornbread were some of his favorite foods.

On September 15, 2020 the Master came and whispered Ben’s name. He answered Him and left for Glory. Waiting to welcome him was the Love of his life: Clymontine Bell! 

Those that remain are their children, Dr. Ben C. (Julie) Bell, Jr., John Everidge Bell, Mary C. (Jerome) Bell Austin, James Curtis Bell, Dr. M. Anthony (Malissa)  Bell and Brice Nichols; his youngest brother, Lewis Bell is the only sibling remaining. His joy, the grandchildren,  Dorcelaine (Dominique), Ben III, Aricca, Brian, Mykeshia, Jamilia and Charmaine; great-grandchildren, Amaya, Jayden, Ayanna, Corban, Owen, Jaxson, Latrell, Laniece, NayNay, Alaysia, Izaiah, Charaya, and Alivia, along with a host of many extended relatives, children he helped raise, church family and friends.