Emma Jean Bell was born on May 25, 1938 to Venita Chester and Ed McGhee, in Liberty Mississippi.  She was a month away from her 82nd birthday when she was called home to be with God.  She left us very quietly in her home on April 9, 2019.  Emma was a resident of Hammond, Louisiana at the time of her passing.  She had for many years previously, been a resident of New Orleans, LA.  

Emma was the youngest of the relatives being raised by Lula and Sam Byrd as a child.  She attended Liberty Rosewald High School until her marriage to M.H. Bell in 1956, in McComb, MS.  The couple spent some time in Chicago, Illinois, before returning to Mississippi where they started a family.  To them were born three children; Sherneskie, Lynda and Clencer Bell.  Emma and M.H. took custody of two her siblings; Patricia Traylor and Robert Chester, due the death of her mother, Venita Chester in March, 1961. The couple resided in Liberty, Ms before finally relocating to New Orleans, Louisiana.  617 Bellecastle Street in New Orleans was to be their home for many, many years. 

Emma studied cosmetology and became a highly sought after beautician, where she worked out of her home. Some years later she gave up being a beautician because of health reasons.  She took a position at the Monteleon Hotel until she retired in 1984. She was incredibly gifted, strong and stubborn. There was nothing she couldn't do and "No," was not a word that she would receive from anyone.  When she had the will to do, she always found a way to do.  

Emma was longtime member of Macedonia Church of God In Christ in New Orleans, under the Pastorship of Elder Dave Jones.  She was introduced to Macedonia by her sister-n-law, Christine Bell who had been a member for quite some time before. Emma loved her Macedonia family and spent a great deal of time training her children, with a heavy hand, to do the same.  She was a strong disciplinarian and was determined to have her children know the Lord Jesus.  In 1976, Emma and M.H. separated and she never remarried.  She loved M.H. Bell, beyond his death; even until her own.  

She is preceded in death by her  grand-daughter Shermiya Bell, her brother, Willie Ike Traylor, her husband, Mason Howard Bell, her sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Herbert and Christine Bell.

She leaves to cherish her memory three children; Sherneskie Bell, Lynda Bell-Haymond and Clencer Bell; Her grandchildren: Jaunte' Bell, Shalonda Bell, Sherneskie Bell, Joshua Bell, Atrell Bell, Gabriyon Haymond, Ambryss Haymond and Chaz Haymond; her great- grandchildren: O'Brian Bell, Derrick Green, Dalaysia Bell, Shelby Williams, Sade Williams, Alaija Williams, Atrell Levy, Ariella Bell, Amya Levy; Her great-great grandchild: Jermya Roberts; Her siblings, Curtis Clines, Christine Brown, Patricia Moore, Barbara Butler, Debra Moore and Robert Chester and a host of neices, nephews and cousins.