James Lee Bell, Jr.

James Lee Bell, Jr., passed away on February 27, 2012. James was born on July 7, 1934 in Crockett, Texas. He was reared in Houston where he attended Booker T. Washington High School (4th Ward, Texas) and Texas Southern University where he met his devoted wife of 53 years. After serving his country in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean Conflict, James went to work in the North Forest Independent School District for thirty-one years. He served as athletic coach, debate coach and teacher at B.C. Elmore High School; Assistant Principal at Northwood Middle School and Smiley High School; Principal at Kirby Middle School and Assistant Superintendent in North Forest ISD. James' career as an educator was fulfilling to him as he often visited with former students and co-workers after his retirement. He was affectionately known as "Coach" by his former students until his death A devoted family man, the moments James valued most were the times he spent at home with his wife and daughter, his close friends whom he considered family and his time on his cattle ranch in Crockett, Texas. James considered family extremely significant, friends were more like kin and cousins were more like siblings. Because of his loving, playful, frank nature, he was "Daddy Bell" and "Grand-Pa" to many. His family and school mates referred to him as "Lump" or "Lump-ty" (as in a lump of sugar), which says it all. He is survived by his adoring wife, Autherine and his dutiful and much loved daughter, Sheryl Benaye Bell. He is also survived by one brother, Steven Ray Bell(Melissa) and a host of friends and relatives that held him dear. He was preceded in death by his parents, Geneva Berryman Blackshear and Jimmy Lee Bell, his brothers, Lee Otis Bell, Leonard Bell and Thomas Bell and his sister, Sue Bell. Services of Remembrance will be Friday, March 2, 2012, 11:00 a.m. Wheeler Ave. Baptist Church, 3826 Wheeler Ave., Houston, Texas 77004. Visitation will begin prior to services at 10:00 a.m. Reverend Dr. Marcus D. Cosby- Officiant.