Obituary for Gertie B. Bell (Parks)
Gertie B. Bell, 95, of Perry, Ga, died Tuesday, February 7, 2023, peacefully at home. Survivors are her children, John (Jennifer) Bell and Patricia K. Bell; twin sister, Genevieve Fletcher, Sally Thomas, Betty Ewer, and Virgil Parks. Gertie was preceded in death by her husband of 69 years, Cohen D Bell (CD); Her sisters, Ruby Smith, Lucille Shirley, Aileen Littles, Mary Law, Louise Shirley; Lorene Jameson and Corene Heard (twins); her brothers, A.P. Parks, Raymond Parks, Frank Parks and John Parks.
Gertie, born in Gainesville, GA November 22nd, 1927, was the daughter of Alfred Porter Parks, Sr., and Ila Orr Parks. Alfred helped many families extending credit at his “Five Mile Store” near Gainesville. They lost the store during the depression and the Parks family moved to Moultrie, Ga and began farming. Gertie helped her mother with younger children, many chores, and later in life, became a caregiver for her mother. She attended the Culbertson School in Moultrie, and Moultrie High school; where she, Genevieve and Corene and Lorene (two sets of twins) all graduated together.
Gertie and CD were married in 1951 in Moultrie and their first Air Force assignment was to San Antonio, Tx. After serving the Air Force in 7 different states over a period of 20 years in the Bells moved from California to Perry, Ga. in 1968 where they remained.
Gertie and CD were active church members wherever they were stationed. They were charter members of a new mission in Lompoc, California, and joined Perry FBC in 1968 where Gertie was secretary for the willing workers Sunday School class. She was involved in the class’s ministry to members and shut ins.
At home, CD grew lots of fresh vegetables and mom loved to work in the yard tending plants and flowers. At various times CD raised worms for fishing, bred milk goats, but finally ended up concentrating on beekeeping which involved extracting honey and carrying bees to farms to enhance pollination of crops. Gertie became very involved feeding worker bees royal jelly to turn them into Queen bees which they sold and shipped to other beekeepers. When Gertie was not gardening or tending to the queens, she was in the kitchen cooking and canning, or cleaning and pressing dad’s shirts and pants so he was always looked his best. Gertie was a gentle person with a servant’s heart always considering the needs of her family and others before her own. She and CD were married for 69 happy years. They remained at home loving and helping each other into their 90’s.
Gertie, born in Gainesville, GA November 22nd, 1927, was the daughter of Alfred Porter Parks, Sr., and Ila Orr Parks. Alfred helped many families extending credit at his “Five Mile Store” near Gainesville. They lost the store during the depression and the Parks family moved to Moultrie, Ga and began farming. Gertie helped her mother with younger children, many chores, and later in life, became a caregiver for her mother. She attended the Culbertson School in Moultrie, and Moultrie High school; where she, Genevieve and Corene and Lorene (two sets of twins) all graduated together.
Gertie and CD were married in 1951 in Moultrie and their first Air Force assignment was to San Antonio, Tx. After serving the Air Force in 7 different states over a period of 20 years in the Bells moved from California to Perry, Ga. in 1968 where they remained.
Gertie and CD were active church members wherever they were stationed. They were charter members of a new mission in Lompoc, California, and joined Perry FBC in 1968 where Gertie was secretary for the willing workers Sunday School class. She was involved in the class’s ministry to members and shut ins.
At home, CD grew lots of fresh vegetables and mom loved to work in the yard tending plants and flowers. At various times CD raised worms for fishing, bred milk goats, but finally ended up concentrating on beekeeping which involved extracting honey and carrying bees to farms to enhance pollination of crops. Gertie became very involved feeding worker bees royal jelly to turn them into Queen bees which they sold and shipped to other beekeepers. When Gertie was not gardening or tending to the queens, she was in the kitchen cooking and canning, or cleaning and pressing dad’s shirts and pants so he was always looked his best. Gertie was a gentle person with a servant’s heart always considering the needs of her family and others before her own. She and CD were married for 69 happy years. They remained at home loving and helping each other into their 90’s.