Susie Alice Bell

We celebrate and cherish the life of our dedicated Mother and Grandmother, Susie Alice Bell, who departed this life on November 13, 2021. Born in Holly Springs, Mississippi on April 10, 1940, she was reared by a loving family in a community that she always called “her home”. She married the late Dr. H.B. Bell on December 6,

1962, and was the mother of daughters Diedrae Carron Bell-Hunter, Dionica Britte Bell, and foster daughter Jackie Furtado. Her pride and joy was her only grandchild, Peyton Elise Bell-Hunter.

Susie attended St. Mary’s High School in Holly Springs, MS. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Education after attending Howard University and Rust College. After graduation, she taught junior high school in Booneville, Mississippi. Upon moving to Dallas, she taught 6th grade at the St. Anthony School. She later attended Northeastern University and Oklahoma State University and graduated with a Master of Education. She also completed post-graduate work at the University of North Texas.

Susie was dedicated to the education of students and was honored to serve as a college professor at the Historically Black Bishop College. Her roles as an administrator with the Dallas Independent School District included Coordinator and Director of the Drug Free Schools Program, Magnet School Curriculum Specialist, and Staff Development Specialist. In 2005, she and her husband retired from the Dallas Independent School District.

Susie felt called to serve her community and left a true legacy of service in the City of Dallas. Among the organizations most dear to her heart were Omicron Mu Omega Chapter, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated; the Barbara Jordan Giving Circle (Founder); and Plano North Metroplex (TX) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated. Susie was inducted as a charter member of PNMC Links on April 1, 1989. She served in many leadership positions on the Local, Area, and National levels. Locally, she served as President, Vice President, Corresponding Secretary, Fundraising Chair for 4 years, and the Chair of many facets and committees. On the Area level she served as Western Area Program Director and Texas Cluster Coordinator. Susie served on the National Executive Board of The Links, Incorporated under the leadership of five National Presidents. Her civic engagement in the city included volunteering at polling sites, registering voters and actively participating in several campaigns.

A true patron of the arts, Susie supported many organizations throughout the city including The Dallas Opera (Executive Board Secretary); City of Dallas Office of Cultural Affairs, now known as the Office of Arts and Culture (Commissioner); Board of Dallas Black Dance Theater; Board of Young Audiences, now known as Big Thought; Dallas Historical Society; African American Museum (Chair of the Annual Ball); The Dallas Symphony; and The Dallas Children’s Theater. She was also active in the Women’s Ministry at All Saints Catholic Church. She also served as a board member of the Dallas Women's Foundation and the Dallas Arboretum.

Susie received many awards and recognitions for her volunteer and community service activities, including the African American Museum of Dallas Heritage Award; Dallas Historical Society Community Service award; the NAACP Excellence in Community Service Award, the Leon Sullivan National Volunteer Award and the A. Maceo Smith Community Service Award. Additionally, she was honored by the Dallas Opera for Outstanding Service and received the Motherhood Lifetime Achievement Award. The Links, Incorporated awarded Susie the Platinum Medal, the highest honor it grants to members of the organization. She was honored with Dallas Black Dance Theater Founder's Day Award for her many years of dedication and service.

One of Susie’s favorite pastimes was Bridge. She was the organizer and the Immediate Past President of the Dallas Chapter of The Holidays, Incorporated National Bridge Organization. For over 45 years, Susie played once a month with BIG (Bridge Interest Group).

Along with her husband, Susie was an avid world traveler. Some of their favorite travel destinations were Greece, Dubai, South Africa, Germany, and France. They also enjoyed Italy, Great Britain, the Caribbean and many other destinations.

Susie was preceded in death by her devoted husband Dr. H.B. Bell, her mother Lessie Davis, and her foster daughter Jackie Furtado (Kenneth Furtado).

The services will be held at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church 720 Floyd Rd. Richardson TX, 75080 at 10:30 a.m. cst. The services may be streamed at http://facebook.com/saintpaulchurch