Naomi Wilson Bell

Death came to Naomi Wilson Whittemore Bell at 8:28 a.m., Friday, July 2, 2021, but even death did not diminish a lifetime of love and caring for family and friends. Characterized by a sense of humor, quick wit, keen intelligence, an engaging, warm personality, adventuresomeness, mental sharpness, and
inventiveness; she maintained a wide variety of interests. She was an avid reader of nonfiction and history, especially all things British. She kept her ipad at her side always wanting to learn a new word for the day or to explore Elon Musk’s next adventure. She loved adventure and traveled extensively into her 80s and 90s including such destinations as London, Norway, Greece, Italy, France, Hong Kong, Japan, as well as numerous destinations in the United States like Alaska, New York City, Yellowstone, Denver, numerous Florida beaches, and rafting the Colorado.

Originally from Alabama she always felt affinity for the Yellowhammer State. Born March 9, 1925 to the late Cora Viola Carden and Elvin A. Whittemore in Bessemer, Alabama, a southwestern suburb of Birmingham, she also lived in Columbiana and Sylacauga where she was graduated from Sylacauga High
in 1943 where she played the coronet and was a member of the Beta Club. She worked in the accounting department of E. I. du Pont in 1943 and several other accounting related jobs until 1951 when she joined the U.S. State Department in Washington, D.C. to study cryptography after which she was deployed to the London Embassy Code Room as a Code Clerk. In 1953 she returned to the States and in early Summer 1954, while visiting friends in Decatur, Georgia, she met Richard Bell and in August, 1954, was married by Dr. J Davidson Philips in the Decatur Presbyterian Church. The couple built a home near Stone Mountain where they resided until they moved to Decatur in the year 2000. In early married life, Naomi had four children under the age of four, Richard, Carol Ann, Jane and Jean, all of whom survive her.

In 1964, Naomi matriculated to Georgia State University as a freshman and later was graduated with a degree in History and a minor in Education - Library Science. She later also received from Georgia State a Master’s degree in Library Science. From 1973 to 1986 DeKalb County employed her as the Media
Specialist at Indian Creek Elementary. After retiring, she utilized these skills as librarian for Decatur Presbyterian Church and the Global Village Project, a school educating refugee girls who have had their education interrupted. She pursued many interests. She was a member of Decatur Presbyterian Church for 67 years. She attended Loudsville Methodist Camp Meeting in Cleveland, Georgia all her married life. She was a long time member of the United Daughters of the Confederacy. She was dedicated to Alzheimer’s research at Emory University - always one with a healthy memory year in and year out with the answers to the questions they asked annually.

In addition to her four surviving children, she has eleven grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren, with two more on the way later this year. She is also survived by a second cousin, Joe Simms, a niece, Diane Forrester and a nephew, Tim Bell. Next to her family, Naomi’s greatest legacies are the numerous friendships she nurtured over her lifetime. Adept at maintaining friendships, for years at her condo, she hosted Salon with beverages and snacks every day at 5:00 p.m. She enjoyed monthly lunches with her Road Runners group and periodic celebrations with her Birthday Luncheon Group.

In lieu of flowers, please remember her with Memorial donations to the Global Village Project or to Decatur Presbyterian Church; both located at 205 Sycamore Street, Decatur, Georgia 30030.