Margaret Bell

She was born on November 30, 1922 at home, in Catawba, to the late Roy Winfield Ratchford, Sr., and Ada Drum Ratchford. After school, she went back and took one year of business classes. She was second in her graduating class. Margaret worked at the ASCS Farm office for 25 years, where she worked mapping the farms in the area. For five years she worked at Nuzum Cross Chevrolet of Newton in the office.

Margaret was a caregiver to her late husband, Eugene Bell, during his long illness. She took care of her mother until she passed away. When her sister, Ada Belle, was dying of cancer she stayed with her and cared for her. She also cared for other neighbors and friends. She was a very caring person.

In addition to her parents, her loving husband, Eugene Bell; two brothers, R.A. Ratchford, of Catawba, Roy Winfield Ratchford, Jr., of Catawba; three sisters, Leota Prestwood of Sherrills Ford, Coleen Ratchford of Catawba, and Ada Belle Scism of Shelby precede Margaret in death.

Surviving are two sons, Alfred Leon Bell and wife, Peggy Bell of Catawba, Jerry Dwight Bell and wife, Nancy Bell of Catawba; one daughter, Brenda Bell Leatherman and husband, Marvin Leatherman of Newton; two sisters, Dezaree Kale of Rock Barn, Mildred Fisher and husband, Lewis Fisher of Matthews; sister-in-law, Pansy Ratchford; one brother-in-law, Yates McCall, who introduced Margaret to her husband, Eugene Bell, at the old well at the church; eight grandchildren; fifteen great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Margaret was a lifelong member of Mt. Ruhama Baptist Church of Maiden, where she was in the Mission Groups, the Choir, and attended faithfully as long as her health permitted.

The funeral service will be at 4:00 p.m., Sunday, June 1, 2014, at Mt. Ruhama Baptist Church in Maiden, with Rev. Mike Staton and Rev. Guy Helms officiating. Interment will follow in the church cemetery.

The family will receive friends prior to the service from 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., at the church.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Mt. Ruhama Baptist Church Building Fund, 3273 Mt. Ruhama Church Rd., Maiden, NC 28650.