Family Statement
It is with great sadness that Mr. Donald Bell, Sr., Mr. Donald Bell, Jr., Dr. Shirley Cason Reed, and family share the passing of a loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and niece. God dispatched His angels to Manassas, Virginia on February 4, 2020, and took the hands of one of His most faithful servants, Valerie Faith Gary Bell. The family would like to thank everyone for their continuous prayers and requests that no calls or visits be made at this time. Additional information on arrangements will be forthcoming.
Biography
Mrs. Valerie Faith Gary Bell was born on October 25, 1953, and is a fifth-generation AME and a member of the Lay Organization since 1974. She is a native of the 2nd Episcopal District the daughter of Mr. James and Rev. Vivian Gary. Valerie’s spiritual growth and development were inspired and nurtured by the members of Mt. Zion AME Church in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
From birth, Valerie was taught to strive for excellence and in 1973 she made history as the first African American graduate of Old Dominion University, School of Dental Hygiene, in the state of Virginia.
Her professional career included employment as a Staff Dental Hygienist, Clinician, and Instructor, at the United States Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland and the Public Health Service of Capitol Hill in Washington DC. She continued to cultivate and enhance her leadership skills as a Marketing Manager for AT&T Inc. in Fairfax, Virginia.
After successful tenures with the United States Naval Academy and AT&T, Valerie stepped out on faith and began living her childhood dream as an African American entrepreneur. For over 25 years, Valerie was the successful owner and stylist of two salons in the D. C. metropolitan area.
Valerie has dedicated her life to making a difference in the hearts and lives of others. As servants of the Lord, Valerie, her husband, and two sons are the founding members of First AME Church of Manassas, Virginia in 1985.
Valerie was recognized in the African Methodist Episcopal Church for her unwavering love for God, humankind and being a catalyst for excellence. She has served in many capacities at the Local, Conference, District, and Connectional level.
General Conference Delegate: 1984-2016
Elected to General Board: 1992-2019
Secretary of the Commission on Statistics/Finance 2000-2017
Member of the Executive Committee of the General Board
Vice-Chairman of the Lay Commission
Member of the Global Development Commission
Connectional Women’s Missionary Society-Chief Protocol Officer
Connectional Lay Witness Speaker/Workshop presenter
Founding member of First AME Church Manassas 1985 Lay Organization 1986
Second Episcopal District Lay President 2010-2018
On August 7, 2017, at the 35th Biennial Session of the Connectional Lay Organization, in Columbus, Ohio, she was elected as the 14th Connectional President. Since the birth of the Lay Organization in 1912, she was the 2nd female to serve in this capacity.
Valerie died on February 4, 2020, after a brief illness. For over forty-six years, she was married to her best friend and the love of her life, Donald Bell, Sr. God blessed this union with two sons: Rev. Donald Bell Jr. (Adrienne) and Derrick Bell, and the proud and loving grandmother of DeAriel, Donald III (Trey), Adriana and Derrick II. She is also survived by her brother James (Darlene) Sherman Gary, Jr. and other family members.
Arrangements
The Wake
Friday, February 21, 2020
6:00 pm-7:00 pm Visitation
7:00 pm – 8:00 pm Reflections
First African Methodist Episcopal Church
10313 S. Grant Ave
Manassas, VA 20110
Rev. Etoria V. Goggins, Pastor
The Official Celebration of Life
Saturday, February 22, 2020
Final Viewing: 9:00 am-10:30 am
Celebration Begins at 11:00 am
Reid Temple African Methodist Episcopal Church
11400 Glenn Dale Blvd
Glenn Dale, MD 20769
Rev. Mark E. Whitlock, Jr., Pastor
*The family requests for all persons desiring to pay final respects to our beloved President to please arrive promptly at 9:00 am as there will only be one viewing prior to the Official Celebration. Thank you for understanding.
Hotel Accommodations
Courtyard by Marriott Greenbelt
6301 Golden Triangle Dr
Greenbelt, MD 20770
1-888-236-2427 or 301-441-3311
Holiday Inn Greenbelt
7200 Hanover Drive
Greenbelt, MD 20770
301-982-0863 direct
Expressions of Sympathy
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations for a scholarship fund established to honor President Bell’s heart for ministry and the legacy of “Onward to Greater.” Please make contributions payable to Mr. Donald Bell with “Bell Scholarship Fund” in the memo and mail them to:
Mr. Donald Bell, Sr.
8876 Sweetbriar Street
Manassas, VA 20110
Please send all resolutions, proclamations and other condolences to First AME Church of Manassas, Virginia in care of the Bell Family.
First African Methodist Episcopal Church
c/o Bell Family
10313 S. Grant Ave
Manassas, VA 20110
Phone: 703.361.8791
Fax: 703.361.3440
E-mail: famechurchoffice@comcast.net
The Bell family expresses their deepest appreciation for the calls, text messages, visits, monetary blessings and other acts of kindness extended to them during this season of bereavement. Please continue to pray with and for them.
“I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth.” Psalm 34:1
Information from the AME Clergy Family Information Center.
