With deepest and most heartfelt sorrow, we join with Mrs. Rita J. (Goodwin) Bell and family in announcing the unanticipated passing from this life, of her beloved husband of 45 years,  Mr. Isiah Lee Bell, age 67, a life-long resident of Roanoke, Randolph County, Alabama.  During these dark hours of loss, we invite our beloved community to join the Bell family in honoring Isiah's exemplary life and legacy as a beloved descendant of a large, loving and respected family of the Franklin Road community, the Allen and Lucinda Bell family, whose branches and outreach have expanded far beyond our human comprehension.  

A Life Rooted in Faith, Family, Labor, and Love

There are some lives that do not simply pass through the world — they leave a road behind. A road marked by strength, devotion, laughter, work-worn hands, family gatherings, and the quiet dignity of a man who stood firmly in who he was. Such was the life of Mr. Isiah Lee Bell, a beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, friend, and lifelong son of Roanoke, Alabama.

Isiah was born on October 22, 1958, in Roanoke, Randolph County, Alabama, to the late Mr. Earnest S. "E.S." Bell, Sr. and the late Mrs. Zera (Whatley) Bell. From his earliest days, Isiah was surrounded by the rhythms of family, faith, and community. He grew up among ten siblings in the Roanoke and Franklin Road area, where the Bell family name was rooted deeply in love, hard work, and spiritual foundation. He was raised in the Christian faith and was connected to the church life that helped shape the Bell family for generations.

A graduate of Randolph County High School, Isiah carried into adulthood the same steady character that marked his upbringing. He understood the value of work, responsibility, and providing for those he loved. Over the years, he gave his time, skill, and strength to several places of employment, including KFC for two (2) years; Franklin Aluminum for nine (9) years; Milliken, where he worked for more than twenty (20) years; and finally Yamaha Motors Company, where he served faithfully for eighteen (18) years as a Lead Supervisor in manufacturing.

But Isiah was far more than the work he performed. He was a man of presence. He was a man whose love showed up in ordinary, unforgettable ways — in the care he took with his yard, in the joy he found watching Alabama football, in the pride he carried for his children, and in the light that came over him when he was surrounded by his grandchildren. He loved family gatherings, not merely for the food or the occasion, but because family was the place where his heart lived most fully.

Isiah had a way of making life feel solid. He was dependable. He was familiar. He was one of those people whose presence could anchor a room without demanding attention. His life spoke in the language of loyalty — loyalty to home, loyalty to family, loyalty to work, loyalty to faith, and loyalty to the people blessed to call him their own.

On Thursday, June 25, 2026, Mr. Isiah Lee Bell departed this earthly life at Wellstar West Georgia Medical Center in LaGrange, Georgia, at the age of 67. Though his passing brings sorrow to all who loved him, his legacy remains mighty. It remains in every lesson he taught, every sacrifice he made, every memory he leaves behind, and every life that is better because he lived.

He leaves to cherish his precious memory his devoted wife, Mrs. Rita J. (Goodwin) Bell; his loving daughters, Felicia Bell-Turman (Pastor Patrick) and LaRissa Miller (Stephen); and four cherished grandchildren: Nahla Turman, Essyence Miller, Stephen Miller, Jr., and Ava Turman, all of Roanoke.

Isiah is also survived by his beloved brothers, Elder Fred Bell (Melinda) of Riverdale, GA, Elder Brady D. Bell (Minnie) of Roanoke, and Zebedee Bell (LaRonna)  of Washington, DC;  sisters: Frances Howell of LaFayette, and Yvonne Bell of Roanoke; and finally a special cousin, John Ceroy Bell, Jr., of Las Vegas, NV;  along with many nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives, church family, coworkers, neighbors, and dear friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Mr. Earnest S. Bell (E.S.) Sr., Mrs. Zera (Whatley) Bell, and by his siblings, Abraham Bell, Carl T. Bell, Earnest Bell aka (E.S.)  Jr., and Nancy Mae (Bell) Brown.

Isiah’s story cannot be measured only by dates, places, or titles. His story is measured in the love of a wife who stood beside him, the pride of daughters who carry his name and nature forward, the laughter of grandchildren who will remember his love, the bond of siblings who shared his beginning, and the community that now pauses to honor his journey.

He labored well. He loved deeply. He stood faithfully. And now, having finished his earthly course, Mr. Isiah Lee Bell rests from his labor, while his works, his love, and his legacy continue to speak.

“Well done, thy good and faithful servant.”

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