Mary Wellborn Bell

Fully believing the words of Philippians 1:21, “For me to live is Christ and to die is gain,” Mary Wellborn Clarke “Mollie” Bell passed from this life into the presence of Jesus Christ on November 29, 2023. She was 100 years old.

A life-long resident of Montgomery, Mrs. Bell began her earthly journey on January 26, 1923, in Montgomery, Alabama, the daughter of Mary Marlow and John T Clarke. She was preceded in death by her parents, her beloved husband, Thomas Antrim Bell, and her grandson, John David Bell.

Those remaining to share her legacy of love and faith are her daughter, Mary Antrim Bell Wilson (Ron) of Tuscaloosa and son, John Clarke Bell (Stephanie) of Montgomery, her much loved-granddaughters Tamara Leigh Wilson Mayhall (Timothy) of Dothan, Amy Elizabeth Wilson Quitt (Jon) of Tuscaloosa, Sarah Elizabeth Bell Harwell (Will) of Montgomery, Rebecca Whitley Bell of Pasadena, CA, and Katherine Marlow Bell Jagoe (Wes) of Sewickley, PA, and her equally loved great-grandchildren Connor Marshal Quitt, Sydney Elizabeth Quitt, Thomas Jennings Mayhall, Timothy Foster Mayhall, Elizabeth Ann Wills, Abigail Grace Wills, and William Charles Harwell III.

From 1933 when she accepted Jesus Christ as her Savior, she was an active member of First Baptist Church, where she taught Sunday School for 25 years, was a member of the Sanctuary Choir, and was instrumental with her friend, Mary England Ashley, in starting the First Baptist Church Prayer Ministry. Later she and Thomas were affiliated with First United Methodist for a number of years. In recent weeks, she returned to her home church, First Baptist, to be with her Montgomery family in worship there. Regardless of where she was or what she was doing, she was always a reflection of the love of Jesus Christ to all people.

Mrs. Bell graduated with honors from the Margaret Booth School in Montgomery and completed her education at Judson College in Marion, Alabama. She remained active in the Judson College Alumnae Association and served as Alumnae Association President. For thirty-seven years, she was a member of the Judson College Board of Trustees where she had the privilege of being the first woman elected to serve as Chairman of the Board. Her much-loved Alma Mater conferred on her the honorary degree, Doctor of Humane Letters.

She was also a longtime member of the Twentieth Century Literary Club of Montgomery and of the Francis Marion Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

A service of celebration will be held at First Baptist Church, in the Stakely Sanctuary, on Monday, December 4, at 12 Noon with Dr. Jay Wolf officiating. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service in the Church Parlour at First Baptist Church.

Memorial Gifts may be made to The Caring Center of First Baptist Church, 305 South Perry Street, Montgomery, Alabama, 36104, or the Stegall Seminary Student Scholarship Fund of First United Methodist Church, 2416 West Cloverdale Park, Montgomery, Alabama, 36106 or to The Judson College Alumnae Association Incorporated, in the care of Patricia Woodard, treasurer, 2404 Plantation Point Circle, Vestavia Hills, Alabama 35226.