Betty Lucile Bell James, 89, made her final transition the evening of Dec. 9, 2024.
Betty was born in Birmingham, Alabama, on March 26, 1935 to the late Andrew Bell Sr. and Lucile Dace Bell. She was the youngest of seven children, affectionately known as Baby Sister. Betty graduated from A. H. Parker High School. Her faith was grounded in the Baptist denomination. She professed her faith and was baptized at a young age; she accepted Christ as her Lord and Savior.
Betty was united in holy matrimony to her handsome husband Vannie James Sr. They met when they lived in the same neighborhood in Birmingham; he served in the United States Army. Betty and Vannie Sr. relocated to New Haven, Connecticut, where they lived and raised their family. Their children are Carlton Sr. (Tubby), Rivera, Vannie Jr., Ronald, Andre Sr., Michael, Jeannette and Wanda.
Betty balanced work and family; she was employed at Winchester Repeating Arms Company for several years. Thereafter, she decided to become a full-time stay-at-home mom to manage her family and home.
Due to her role as a wife and mother of eight children, she had her hands full. Betty was actively involved with her children’s activities in girl scouts, school, church, community events and attending baseball games.
Betty and her family traveled to Birmingham many summers for vacations. They spent many happy and joyful moments together with their entire families and relatives. Betty would share many times with her children that she had a good childhood growing up with her family in Birmingham.
Once Betty’s children became young adults she returned to the workplace; she worked at Sears and Roebuck department store for several years. She was delighted to have raised her grandchildren Whitney and Denzel whom she shared a special bond with. Years later her great granddaughter Amiyah was born; she loved her dearly and was happy to have shared special moments with her, and see her grow up into a beautiful teenager. Betty was delighted to have in her lifetime 11 grandchildren and 28 great grandchildren. They all had a special place in her heart.
Betty was a member of the Atwater Senior Center. She cherished her dear friendships with Mrs. Naomi Melvin, Mrs. Veronica Foster, Mrs. Audrey Bolling and Mrs. Helen Salters. In naming a select few of Betty’s favorite hobbies, she enjoyed watching the soap operas on television, she was a southern belle and enjoyed cooking and baking, sitting on her porch in the summer time talking to her neighbors, and retail shopping at the mall.
Betty had a kind heart, always willing to help anyone, and never said no when her loved ones asked for something. Betty was a bright light to the family.
She leaves to cherish her memories with her four sons Carlton Bell Sr. (Cathy), Vannie James Jr. (Deborah), Ronald James (Maria), Andre James Sr.; two daughters, Jeannette James and Wanda James; and her brother Walter Bell Sr. Betty also leaves to cherish her memories a host of nieces, nephews, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.
Betty is predeceased by her parents Andrew Bell Sr. and Lucile Dace Bell; three brothers Andrew Bell Jr. (aka Sonny boy), James Bell (aka Peewee), and Artis Leon Bell; sisters Mary Alice Bell Randall and Queen Esther Pippens; husband Vannie James Sr.; two sons Rivera James and Michael James; and grandson Andre James, Jr.
A celebration of Ms. James’ life and legacy will be held Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. at Curvin K. Council Funeral Home, 128 Dwight St., New Haven, followed by the burial in Evergreen Cemetery, New Haven. A viewing will be held prior to the celebration of life from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. The service will be live-streamed here.