#april-1964 to april-1965 animals are very special to me........

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WHEN I FIND MAGAZINES WITH THEM ON THE FRONT COVER... IT'S A GOOD DAY... 🥹🐾✨️

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Frank Bell: thank you for the kindness and the beautiful songs

Frank Bell

By JERRY LANKFORD

Record Editor

It broke my heart to learn that my neighbor and cousin, Frank Bell, passed away on Saturday, Jan. 12.

He was 85, and was the son of the late Clay and Grace Bell. He was born on July 27, 1933.

During his younger years, Frank had served in the U.S. Army and spent a long career with the U.S. Postal Service.

Frank had been frail for years, but had still managed to walk between his home two doors from my house on Kite Road, to see his son, Jerry Bell, who lived next door to me. He and his wife, Fran, tended to Jerry over the years because of his severe diabetes.

Frank and Fran also had two daughters - Kim and Donna along with grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Fran, who is a true angel on this earth, was so vigilant in her care for Jerry - I simply couldn't count the times Fran pulled into her sickly son's driveway each day to check on his well being.

Franklin "Jerry" Fitzgerald Bell, 52, died Thursday, Dec. 21, 2017, at his home due to complications of his diabetes. He was born July 16, 1964, here in Wilkes to Franklin (Frank) Delano and Frances (Fran) Emaline Childress Bell.

I recall the morning that poor Fran found her son deceased. I'm not sure I've every seen a mother so sad.

The Bell family has always been part of my family's life.

Frank's mother, Grace, was a sister to my maternal grandfather, Thomas Everette McNeil (b. April 24, 1895 - d. July 22, 1972), whose wife was Fairie Huffman McNeil (b. Dec. 19, 1900 - d. Feb 21, 1965). Grace was married to Clay, a Navy veteran of both World Wars and who had participated in piloting a landing craft hauling troops during the invasion of Normandy during WWII.

Grace was one of the sweetest ladies I'd ever met. She had suffered from polio early in her life and mostly sat in a corner of their living room (then next door to our family's house) beside a big heater to ease her pain.

I spent a lot of time in that house, mostly to visit with Clay. I loved his war stories. He could even speak some German he picked up overseas. And, if it wasn't war stories, it was scripture from his beloved Bible. I just liked hearing him talk - almost shouting at times, as he stirred my imagination.

His son, Frank, was always kind to me, especially as a child. My sister, Ellen, and me were close to the same age as the Bell children. We'd visit and play.

But, on very special occasions, Frank would take out one of his guitars and start picking. That was before I began taking music lessons. His skill fascinated me as he'd sit near the fireplace in their front parlor.

Frank also had a beautiful voice, particularly when he sang old hymns. He was one of the few people I'd ever seen play an instrument at that stage of my life. I can easily reckon that he is one of the folks who inspired me to play music.

My prayers go out to the Bell family - particularly Fran, Donna and Kim. Losing Frank is a harsh loss. Their faith, I have no doubt, will pull them through this tribulation.

As a side note, I want to thank Fran for being so good to my dog, Chewy. Her kindness to this animal goes a long way toward showing the true soul of that family.

And, thank you, Frank, for the beautiful songs. I'll never forget them.

  Jerry Lankford has been editor of The Record since it began in 1999.

He can be reached at 336-667-0134 or jerrylankford@yahoo.com