Mrs. Velma Lewis Bell, a beloved mother, grandmother, sister, and friend, peacefully passed away on November 19, 2024, in Birmingham, Alabama. She was born on August 20, 1943, and was a lifelong resident of Birmingham.

Mrs. Velma was a passionate individual who dedicated her life to her family, music, and children. She was deeply involved with her community. She was a proud member of Hebron Missionary Baptist Church, where she was baptized,  Velma's Heart and American Heart Association. Her love for children inspired her to work diligently in education, where she touched the lives of many.

Educated in the Birmingham City public school system, Velma graduated from A. H. Parker High School. She dedicated her life to healthcare and being a neighborhood mother to all, creating a warm and loving home for everyone. Velma never met a face that she did not feed.

Velma was preceded in death by her husband, Lonnie Bell Jr.; grandson, Carlos DeWayne Bevelle; four sisters, Catherine Dial, Gladys McElroy, Bernice Gamble, and Joyce Hanberry; and three brothers, John Lewis, Jr., Dr. Richard Lewis, and Willie Lewis.

She leaves behind a legacy of love and cherished memories to her sons, Ralph (Eva) McClain Jr., Reginald McClain Sr. of Birmingham, and Kevin (Angela) Bell of Chicago, IL; daughters, Cynthia Lewis, Vanessa Cook, and Constance Anderson of Birmingham, Alabama; and her beloved grandchildren, Christopher, Eddie, Chastity, Shaki, Reginald Jr., Cameron, Carlos, Kiara, Corei, Antenesha, Kyla, Kobe, Tyler, Tristan, and McKenzie. She also adored her 18 great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren. Velma is survived by two sisters, Ruth Brewster of Atlanta, Georgia, and Thelma Johnson of Birmingham, Alabama; one brother, Leon (Bernice) Lewis of Birmingham, Alabama. Brother-in-laws Oliver Hanberry Sr.  and Johnny Bell, sister-in-laws Emma Jones, Juanita Santana, Deborah Bell, Pearl Bell all of  Birmingham, Alabama and Beth Lewis Los Angeles, California. Along with a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

Mrs. Bell's vibrant spirit, love of family, music, and dedication to her family will be profoundly missed by all who knew her.