Charlotte Ann Wilson Bell

Charlotte Ann (Wilson) Bell

Born May 1, 1934 in Weirton, WV to Viola Mae (Barnett/Godfrey) and Alan Richard Wilson. She attended Richmond Elementary and Junior High and graduated in 1952 from Jefferson Union High School in Ross Ridge of Jefferson County, Ohio. She participated in the Debate club, Future Farmers of America and Future Teachers of America, Y-teens, Chorus, and Honor Society.

After graduation she moved to Columbus, Ohio and worked for the Federal Government at the Depot (Bldg. 29). Later she was hired at the State Department of MRDD where she worked until she was hired at Xerox/Field Publications where she worked until retirement.

Charlotte’s Christian life began at Second Baptist Church (Steubenville, Ohio) where she was baptized and later married Edward Bell. She joined Shiloh Baptist Church after relocating to Columbus. She later joined Oakley Baptist Church (Rev. Jacob J. Ashburn). She continued her Christian journey at New Fellowship Christian Church (Rev. David Foster) before becoming a member of Christ Memorial Missionary Baptist Church under the leadership of Rev. Dr. Shedrick Fowler until her death.

Charlotte married the late Edward Bell in 1952 and unto this union they gave birth to 4 children. Edward A Bell (fiancée-Pam), Columbus, Charleta V. (Michael) Tavares, Columbus, Lolita Renee (deceased) and Bryan Jeffrey (deceased).

Mrs. Bell was preceded in death by her parents Viola Mae and Alan Richard Wilson, siblings William Godfrey, Marjorie (Godfrey) Estes, Antoinette (Godfrey) Simmons, Allen Richard Wilson, Nathaniel (Sam) G. Wilson, Sylvia Ann (Wilson) Bridges, Marva Lynn (Wilson) Berry. Left to mourn her are Viola Mae Wilson (Philadelphia), Catherine C. (Wilson) Bridges, Lular Elizabeth (Wilson) Smith, sister-in-law, Lorraine Wilson, brother-in-law, Kenneth Bell, and a host of nieces and nephews in the Bell and Wilson families.

Mrs. Bell was actively involved as a volunteer in many civic, social and political causes including the Chicago Avenue Elementary PTA, Gladden Community Civic Council, Girl Scout Brownie Troop Leader, Friends Helping Neighbors Clothing Drive, 29th District Political Caucus and Ohio AARP. Political campaign worker for Ray Miller for State Rep. and Senate, Janet Jackson (Municipal Court), Richard Cordray (Treasurer), Kevin Boyce (City Council and State Treasurer), Hagan/Tavares (gubernatorial campaign), Tavares (Council, Secretary of State, Representative and Senate), Priscilla Tyson (City Council), presidential campaign volunteer for Bill Clinton, Al Gore, Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton.

Mrs. Bell was one of the founding members of the Columbus Chapter of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women in the 1980’s.

After participating in a training to assist women with Lupus learn about their illness and to support others, she founded the Urban Lupus Support Group in the Central City of Columbus. The Urban Lupus Support Group met at the Hamlar Art Gallery within the Dental offices of Dr. David Hamlar.

Mrs. Bell testified before the Ohio House of Representatives about the impact of Lupus on African American and women of color and with the assistance of Cheryl Boyce, former director of the Ohio Commission on Minority Health (OCMH), she successfully secured state funding for Lupus programs in the Commission’s budget. She was later appointed a commissioner of OCMH.

In addition, she founded the first in the state of Ohio, People of Color/Survivors of Suicide support group after the suicide death of her son, Bryan Jeffrey Bell. She also served on the Ohio Dept. of Mental Health’s Suicide Prevention Planning Committee under the leadership of Director Michael Hogan to create the Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation (ohiospf.org) Because of all of her work to assist those with behavioral and mental health issues among people of color, she was honored by the Franklin County ADAMH Board, Columbus Area Mental Health (now named Columbus Area Integrated Health) and Community Housing Network by naming the Therapeutic Residential Facility on Bryden Road – The Bell Center.

She received numerous awards and recognitions including being inducted into the Central Ohio Area Agency on Aging’s Senior Hall of Fame. Volunteer Recognition Award from OCMH, resolutions and citations from the Columbus City Council, Ohio House of Representatives, and the Ohio Senate.

Visitation 11:00am and Funeral 12:00 noon Friday June 22, 2018 at First Church of God 3480 Refugee Rd. Interment at Green Lawn Cemetery. Ministry of Comfort entrusted to MARLAN J. GARY FUNERAL HOME, THE CHAPEL OF PEACE EAST 5456 E. Livingston Ave. To read the complete obituary, order flowers and to offer condolences to The BELL Family, visit www.TheChapelofPeace.com

The family has asked that you honor Mrs. Bell by making contributions -in lieu of flowers to:

NAMI-Franklin County

People of Color/Survivors of Suicide

1225 Dublin Rd., Suite 110

Columbus, Ohio 43215

www.namifranklincounty.org

The Bell Center

℅ Columbus Area Integrated Health

815 Bryden Road

Columbus, Ohio 43205

Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation

www.OhioSPF.org

c/o NAMI-Ohio

1225 Dublin Rd

Columbus, Ohio   43215