Clara B. Bell

Clara Bell was born July 17, 1932, in Wilmington North Carolina Hospital to Jimmie and Charles Smith. She was the youngest of seven children. When she was three years old, her parents who were born and raised in Sumter South Carolina, moved their children to Manhattan, NY. She attended PS 136 in Harlem. She graduated from Central Needle Trade High School in 1950. Clara Bell, being the youngest, thought growing up was easy for her. She didn’t see the struggle that her mother, by now a single parent, and her older siblings were going through. This was the time of the Great Depression. Her siblings that were of age had jobs and because she was too young to work, the household chores were left to her. That’s when she learned how to cook. Starting the meals before her family came home from work, she took pride in preparing dinner and loving the praise her mother would give her for doing so. The big pots of food she cooked as a child came in handy when she got married.

Clara Bell Smith met the love of her life when she was sixteen years old. She married Novarro (Cookie) Bell on October 7, 1950. From their union they also had seven children. Clara Bell, had celebrated her 71 years of marriage to her husband before he passed away on January 26, 2022. Every wedding anniversary is special, but 71 years of marriage is a rare accomplishment.

After all Clara Bell's children were in school, she went to work full time for The New York City Department of Correction on March 23, 1965, as a Corrections Officer. During her career, she's worked in the Village Women's House of Detention, Riker's Island, Manhattan Court Pens, and then transferred in 1980 to Staten Island Criminal Court where she remained until she retired in 1991. She received many service awards for her services.

Clara and her husband had a steady group of friends that they traveled with, and it seemed like they took a trip somewhere every other month. The family believed that these trips they took along with the family get togethers, birthdays, barbecues and all the other celebrations at the Bell's residence kept them in good health and spirits.

Clara Bell passed away on January 22, 2025. She is survived by Her children: Raoul, Gale Dakers, Mario, Dawn Daniels, Robin and Andre, Grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren, to carry on her legacy. She was also survived by her last living cousin from her generation Elizabeth Cunningham. She was preceded by her husband Novarro Bell and her son John Bell. She will be forever in our hearts.

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