Mrs. Bell was born on July 19, 1915 in Heard County Georgia, the daughter of the late Harriett Josey Williams Miller and Walter Hiram Miller. At a very early age she took on the responsibility of caring for her mother, and she did this with love and compassion. She was married to John Mayfield Bell and they lived on a small farm on Salem Road until his death in 1973. Her family remembers fondly the delicious meals she prepared on the old wood stove, and the joy surrounding those family events. After her husband’s death, her sister, Mae Miller Williams lived with her, and in later years she lived with her brother and sister-in-law John and Ernestine Miller.
She was a faithful attender of Franklin First Baptist Church, but was the oldest living member of the Franklin United Methodist Church where she was brought up as a child. In her later years she was particularly close to her sister-in-law Ernestine. You never saw one without the other. When Aunt Jean’s health began to deteriorate she made the move to the Franklin Nursing Home, now Pruitt Health Center and was a favorite resident to other residents, as well as staff. She loved having guests in her room and always insists that they sign her guest book. She was so popular that she was named the 2005 Miss Franklin Nursing Home, and enjoyed traveling to, and competing in the state nursing home competition. She recently enjoyed a wonderful day of celebrating her 100th birthday with family and friends. Her most endearing quality was her deep and abiding faith in Jesus Christ. She spent many hours every day studying her bible. She will long be remembered as one who was gracious, loving, always wore a smile, and appreciated even the smallest of kindnesses.
She is survived by her sister-in-law and companion, Ernestine Miller, nieces, Eleanor Miller Smith (Alan), and Harriett Williams Latham (Grady); nephews, John Thomas Williams (Judith), Thomas Miller (Judy), Wayne Miller (Carolyn), and Harold Miller (Cindy); a number of adoring great-nieces and nephews; and her dear roommate, Evelyn Clifton.
Other than her parents, she was preceded in death by her beloved husband, John Bell; twin baby sister, Noreen Miller; sister, Mae Williams; brothers; John Miller and Howard Miller, and Nephews, Freddy Williams and Hiram Miller.