Mother Bell

On June 10, 1952, a bundle of joy blessed the union of Jethro and Delores Bell of Arkansas, their eighth child, Betty Ann. She attended school in Gary Indiana and graduated from Roosevelt High School in 1970. Shortly after her matriculation, she attended Business College. Mother Bell followed several career paths professionally, which began with her work as a teacher's assistant in her young adult life. At that time, she returned to school to become a phlebotomist, and was employed by the Chiola Medical Center. Following that, Mother Bell relocated to Aurora, Colorado. In Colorado, she continued her employment at University Hospital of Colorado in Billing and Patients Accounts before returning to Indiana to care for her mother. Known for her mouth-watering desserts and delicious home-style cooking, Mother Bell was one of the entrepreneurs of the family's restaurant, "Grama's Kitchen" in Gary, Indiana, from 2004-2005. In 1961, her mother, Delores Bell, joined Friendly Church of God in Christ, under the leadership of the late Elder L.C. Baker. Through his ministry, Mother Bell was introduced to Jesus Christ and at the age of twelve years, she accepted Him as her personal Saviour. After receiving the baptism of the Holy Ghost , Mother Bell continued to grow in the nurture and admonition of the Lord and accepted her call to ministry under the tutelage of the late Elder Roger Worthy, Pastor of Willing Worker's Church of God in Christ. The Lord pressed upon Mother Bell to "Feed My Sheep", therefore she was known for making rounds and gathering others on Sunday mornings for church service and Tuesdays evenings for choir rehearsal; yes, Mother Bell was the Choir Director! Mother Bell began to evangelize and one of her favorite songs after a visitation of the Holy Ghost was "It's Raining." From 1987 to 1994, she assisted her mother, Evangelist Delores Bell with the True Vine Outreach Radio Broadcast Ministry. In 2005, the Lord commissioned her to "birth-out" and organize "True Vine Outreach Ministries, Inc." where she assisted its Founder, the late Mother Delores Bell and Co-Founder, the late Mother Kathaline Bray. Mother Betty Bell "put her shoulder to the grind" to bring the vision to manifestation. Following the death of True Vine's founder, in 2009, Mother Bell accepted the baton and she, along with her youngest sister, continued to unfold the vision. Subsequently, Mother Bell became the Pastor of True Vine Outreach Ministries, Inc. She was compelled to "go-forth" and carry the spiritual burden of deliverance for God's people and the mandate from the Lord to "Feed My Sheep." Mother Bell was known for her participation in the Annual Tent Revival held in Patcher Park, in the Tarrytown neighborhood of Gary, Indiana. The driving mission and theme for True Vine's Revival is: " Well, you wouldn't come to church so we brought the church to you" as they offered: Drive-Thru Prayer by the Sons of Thunder, Free giveaway of school supplies, Annual Father's Day Breakfast, Free Thanksgiving Dinner, Free Thanksgiving Baskets to name a few. Mother Bell worked endlessly to do "whatever her hands found to do." If someone needed prayer, counseling, or a daily "Spiritual Vitamin," Mother Bell would minister without hesitation all that God had purposefully and personally ordained. She was truly an honored vessel, humbly submitted to the will of God, and completely yielded to His purpose for her life to be a blessing to others. There is not enough space to share all that she did for the Body of Christ, even until her passing. For during her illness, she continued to encourage the discouraged and give of herself to let all know that "God is Able". Her works will truly praise her in the gates. Mother Bell has been a great inspiration to so many and we are blessed to have had this Matriarch for the time God gifted her to us. Mother Bell accepted the appointment of Church Mother of Unity Church of God in Christ under the leadership of Superintendent Lamar and 1st Lady Odie Kennedy. During her leadership as Church Mother, Mother Bell impressed upon the women to live a Godly and holy life, which she demonstrated in deed and in truth. She taught commitment to family first and then ministry. She encouraged the aspiring Missionaries to embrace the call of God on their lives and she prophetically ministered God-given revelations to many throughout the city. Mother Bell emphasized faithful stewardship and provided spiritual guidance through her teaching of the necessity of establishing and maintaining a solid foundation in the Word of God. She was an encourager of the men, women and children of Unity and had enough time to personally share with all. Everyone who encountered Mother Bell has a personal testimony of how special she made him or her feel loved. During her leadership, she organized and led numerous prayer "shut-ins" in the old-time way and she continued her outreach ministry with Thanksgiving and Christmas basket giveaways through Unity Church of God in Christ. Mother Bell spearheaded the annual Father's Day celebration, led the Intercessory Prayer Ministry, impacted the Missionary Circle and guided Mother's Board in a loving, caring and humble way imploring the need and call for women and men to embrace holiness as a way of life. Mother Bell was also known for her thunderous delivery of the word of God that would invoke self-examination and compel masses to surrender to the power of God and give their lives completely to Him. A Mother in Zion, Intercessor Prayer Warrior, a jewel whose price is far above rubies, Mother Bell's legacy shall forever be memorialized, as she impressed upon every man, woman, boy and girl to follow the roadmap and to stay on "Route 66...The Holy Bible." For she said, "If you follow the word and don't detour, God's word will get you to your final destination…Heaven" On October 21, 2015, Mother Betty Ann Bell departed this life and transitioned from labor to reward. She was preceded in death by her parents, Delores and Jethro Bell, siblings, Kathaline Bell Bray and Jethro Bell Jr. Mother Bell will be affectionately missed by her three biological children, La'Tondia Weatherington and (Richard) Brown, Aa'reck (Bessie) Wiggins and Johnnie Wiggins, her grandchildren, Sha'La Wiggins, I'Talia and X'ander Brown, Aa'reck Wiggins II, and Aa'Zjon Wiggins, (Colorado), siblings, Shirley Moore and Deloss (Annette) Bell, (California), Arizona Richards, Lola Tate, Jessie Pulliam, Racine (Kenneth) Blakely, ( Gary, Indiana), and a host of nieces and nephews, who adored her and affectionately called her, "Auntie Betty Ann". Others cherish her legacy as a Spiritual Mother and Mentor of numerous Spiritual Sons of Thunder and Daughters of Zion, along with many relatives and friends, including the "True Vine Outreach Ministries, Inc." of Gary, Indiana and her pastor Superintendent Lamar Kennedy and 1st Lady Odie Kennedy and the Unity Church of God in Christ, family in Denver, Jurisdiction of Colorado. Gone to be with God, but never forgotten, Mother Betty Ann Bell, a Woman of God who did it all for the cause of Christ Jesus and then some.

Funeral Home: Pipkin Braswell Funerals and Cremation - 2050 Uinta Street, Denver, Colorado
Visitation: 10/30/2015 at 4:00 PM - Pipkin Braswell Chapel of Peace - 6601 East Colfax Avenue, Denver, CO
Service: 10/31/2015 at 12:00 PM - Unity Church of God In Christ - 3370 Ivy Street, Denver, CO
Family Gathering: 10/31/2015 - Following the Service Unity Church of God In Christ - 2428 Ogden Street, Denver, CO