Willie Bell Curtis

Wille Bell Curtis was a beautiful, intelligent, loving woman of God. As the matriarch of her family, Willie Bell led by example, sacrificing to care for her loved ones from her youth until her passing. She gave her life to Christ at a young age. She was an active member of Pleasant Hill Baptist Church serving as a Sunday School Teacher and a cherished member of the congregation.

Willie Bell Curtis transitioned from this world on September 15, 2021 at the age of 88. She was born to John B. and Mae Bell Ford, along with four siblings who preceded her in death John Lee Ford (Beatrice), Dorothy Ford Dubose, and twins who died at birth. After the passing of her mother, Willie Bell and her siblings were cared for briefly by her grandmother Isabella until her eventual passing. Her father John B. remarried Macie P. Ford and went on to have sons, Joel Ford, Percy Ford, Sylvester Ford, Willie D. Ford (Lillie), Bobby Ford (Margie) and daughters, Ester Ford, Mary Ford Jackson (Ronald), Earnestine Ford Brown (William), Marjorie Ford Edwards, Shirley Ford Johnson (Isaac) and Lovelle Ford Buchanon (Preston).

Willie Bell was married 16 years to Odell Curtis in 1951 until his passing in 1967 at the age of 33. She had 7 sisters-in-law and 4 brothers-in-law. Willie Bell and Odell are survived by their four children, sons Jesse Cleveland Curtis (Eunice), Charles Curtis, Lorenzo Curtis and their only daughter Geraldine Curtis. Willie Bell was instrumental in raising 6 of her grandchildren including Stevie Wallace (Jennifer), Daphne Curtis Mayfield (Roderick), Lesedric Curtis, Demetria Curtis Gaines (Tommie), Temeka Curtis and Tiara Curtis. She is also survived by grandchildren Shunte’ Hubbard (Marcellus), Antonio Thomas, Tiffany Mauldin, Lakendric Dunn, Fatima Curtis, Terrista Curtis, Calmisha Curtis, Alezia Curtis, Renado Pruitt, Charlotte Curtis and Kendrick Stark. Willie Bell was also blessed with many great and great-great grandchildren.

Willie Bell’s strong faith in God and love for her family leaves a legacy that will never perish. She will be loved and missed eternally.