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To honor, recognize and celebrate the life of Mrs. Charlotte Ann Wilson Bell and to extend our sincerest condolences to her family and friends on the occasion of her passing, Thursday, June 14, 2018.
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WHEREAS, Mrs. Charlotte A. Bell (Wilson) was born on May 1, 1934 in Weirton,, West Virginia to Alan and Viola Wilson - she grew up in Ross Ridge, Jefferson County, Ohio and graduated from Jefferson Union High School; and
WHEREAS, Charlotte moved to Columbus to live with her sister and later married Mr. Edward Bell - and unto this union gave birth to four children: Edward A Bell, Charleta V. Tavares, Lolita Renee and Bryan Jeffrey; and;
WHEREAS, Mrs. Bell was actively involved as a volunteer in many civic, social and political causes including the PTA, the Gladden Community Civic Council, a Girl Scout Brownie Troop Leader, the Friends Helping Neighbors Community Clothing Drive, the 29th District Political Caucus and the Ohio AARP; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Bell was one of the founding members of the Columbus Chapter of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, an organization that fosters the principles of equal rights and equal opportunity, promotes awareness of Black culture, and strives to develop its members as effective civic leaders; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Bell continued to be a leader in the community by participating in training on how to help women with lupus learn about their illness and how to support others - she also started an Urban Lupus Support Group in the City of Columbus; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Bell’s advocacy led her to testify before the Ohio House of Representatives about the impact of Lupus on African American women of color, and with the assistance of Mrs. Cheryl Boyce, the former director of the Ohio Commission on Minority Health, Ms. Bell successfully secured state funding for lupus programs in the Commission on Minority Health’s budget; and
WHEREAS, through personal tragedy she was inspired to start the first and only support group for people of color dealing with the pain of suicide in the State of Ohio; and
WHEREAS, in early 2000, the Alcohol, Drug and Mental Health (ADAMH) Board of Franklin County renamed the Therapeutic Residential Facility on Bryden Road, The Bell Center, in honor of Mrs. Bell’s work in the area of mental health and addiction disorders; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Bell always had a warm smile and welcoming arms, and faithfully attended Christ Memorial Baptist Church, where she encouraged the well-being of the community; now therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS: That this Council does hereby honor, recognize and celebrate the life of Mrs. Charlotte Ann Wilson Bell and extend this Council’s sincerest condolences to her family and friends on the occasion of her passing, Thursday, June 14, 2018.