Whereas throughout her life, Bessie Bernice Hollemon Bell has served the Virginia community through her work with the state as a teacher at the Greenville County Training School and as a Southside Training School assistant principal.
Whereas Bessie Bell worked on her family farm as a young child in the fields picking cotton,
shaking peanuts, shucking corn, and picking all kinds of vegetables, which launched her love for agriculture.
Whereas Bessie Bell was also a member of the Zion Baptist Church, Sunday School Teachers, The Pulpit Aid Society, Petersburg chapter of Club Dejour Inc, Foster Grandparents Program, American Businesswomen, and the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority;
Whereas Bessie Bell is a proud graduate of Virginia State College (now University) with a Bachelor of Arts in Education and a master’s in Special Education, and is where she met her late husband of over fifty years, George Elmo Bell.
Whereas Bessie Bell has shown much patience and strength for raising two children, George Rudolph and Michael. both of whom graduated from Peabody High School and later college.
Whereas Bessie Bell has fostered meaningful friendships and is loved by all in her current residence at The Crossings at Ironbridge Parkway in Chester, Virginia, where she is known as “Triple “B” for her name Bessie Bernice Bell.
Whereas, Bessie Bell is celebrating her one hundred and second birthday with her friends and family closeby
Resolved, that the James River Soil and Water District Committee, on behalf of its members:
- honors and is grateful to Bessie Bernice Hollemon Bell for her tireless commitment to agriculture and education in the Commonwealth of Virginia, and
- expresses its greatest appreciation and well wishes to Bessie Bernice Hollemon Bell on her 102nd birthday.