Rachel B. Bell Lee

Rachel was born on June 16,1930 in Atkinson, NC. She was the youngest of nine children of John and Mae Bloodworth. Rachel graduated from high school in Atkinson and went on to enroll in James Walker Memorial Hospital Nurses Training School in Wilmington, NC. She graduated in 1952 as a registered nurse and began a long career in nursing. Her first job was as a registered nurse in the Medical Office of Dr. Kunce in Wilmington, NC.

Rachel married Charles F. (CF) Bell Jr on August 9, 1952. When the Atlantic Coastline Railroad moved them to Richmond, Virginia, Rachel worked as a registered nurse at the VA Hospital and then at the Medical College of Virginia.

In 1963, the Atlantic Coastline Railroad move them to Jacksonville, Florida, where Rachel began working as a registered nurse at then Baptist Hospital. She was a floating registered nurse and worked in all departments throughout the hospital. She became a charge nurse of the Critical Care Unit and of the Cardiac Care Unit. Before retiring from Baptist Medical Center in 1987, Rachel was the first nurse to work in administration as Utilization Review Coordinator where she helped usher in one of the first HMOs in the state of Florida. She served as president of the Northeast Florida Chapter of Utilization Review Coordinators in 1977.

During her professional career, Rachel was an active member of the American Businesswomen’s Association for many years where she held the positions of Treasurer, Vice President and President of the Top of Florida Chapter. She was named Woman of the Year in 1989.

Since 1963, Rachel was an active member of St. Paul United Methodist Church and served on many of the boards, committees and fellowship groups of the church. She was a dedicated member of the BYKOTA (Be Yea Kind One To Another) Sunday School class.

Rachel loved fishing, especially on the beaches of NE Florida, camping with her family all over the United States, traveling the world with lifelong friends and many of the parties and poolside activities at Fort Caroline Club. In her later years, Rachel took up line dancing and she loved playing cards with her friends.

Rachel was predeceased by her parents, John Huffam Bloodworth and Mae Johnson Bloodworth, her husband of 37 years, Chares F. "CF" Bell Jr., her granddaughter Natalie Brooke Bell, her son Charles F. "Chuck" Bell III and her second husband of 6 years, Robert "Bob" D. Lee.

She is survived by her daughter, Mary B "Jackie" Hall of Jacksonville FL, her son David M. Bell, wife Tammy of Jacksonville FL, daughter-in-law Cheryl Bell (husband Charles F "Chuck" Bell III, deceased) of Jacksonville FL, bonus daughter Kathi Lee Bell, husband Bill of Jacksonville FL , bonus son William T. "Bill" Lee, wife Plah of Colorado Springs, Colorado; grandchildren Scott (Jennifer), Justin, Kevin, Stephanie, Frank (Jessica), Rebecca (Mario), bonus grandson Jimmy (Jason) and great grandchildren Carson, Shelby, Evan, Isabella, Mario, Mateo, Fletcher, Archer, and Finley (due in April), as well as a great number of nieces and nephews.

A Celebration of Life will be held at St Paul United Methodist Church, 8264 Lone Star Rd, Jacksonville FL 32211 on Friday, February 21, 2025. Visitation will be at 10 am, Service of Celebration of Life is at 11am with a luncheon to follow in the Fellowship Hall. Interment will be at 2:30 at Chapel Hills Memory Gardens, 850 St Johns Bluff Rd, Jacksonville FL.

In lieu of flowers, the family request that donations be made in memory of Rachel B. Bloodworth Bell Lee to the University of North Florida School of Nursing: https://give.unf.edu/nursing