Clymontine Bell

Clymontine (Steward) Bell was born through a midwife to the lovely parents, Winford Tharp and Emma Lou Steward in Crockett County, TN on March 28, 1940.



Clymontine attended grade school at Barker School, located just down the path from the local church. She graduated from Webb High School in McKenzie, TN. After graduation, Clymontine went on to college on a basketball scholarship; however, she attended for just a day, as the women's program had been cut when she arrived. Clymontine would go back home and reunite with the love of her life, Mr. Benjamin Cecil Bell Sr. Shortly after, the loving couple was joined in holy matrimony. Following the wedding the two honeymooned in their favorite city, Des Moines, IA., and never left.



Clymontine began her career at the Fort Des Moines Hotel for a short time and then went on to work for Mercy Hospital. She then transitioned down the road to work at Northwest Hospital. Because of her diligence in her previous positions, the Lord saw fit to bless her with a new one. She was hired at Drake University where she prepared training tables for the student-athletes. She greatly enjoyed the relationships she built with the coaches and professors on campus. In 1983, she again moved on to work at Veteran's Hospital. It was here where she would finish her long career of serving others when she retired in 2007.



Mother Clymontine, or "Mom Bell" as everyone called her, began her Christian experience as a child at St. John's First Missionary Baptist Church. When she moved to Iowa, she joined Morning Star Missionary Baptist Church, under the leadership of Pastor Alex Crawford Jr. She moved on to Grace Memorial Church of God in Christ under the late Pastor O.J. Johnson Sr. Shortly thereafter she joined East 17th Church of God in Christ under Bishop J.E. Abernathy. Mom Bell would continue to serve faithfully under Bishop Abernathy's successors: Bishop Louis Henry Ford, Pastor Richard L. Daye, the Honorable Bishop Hurley Bassett Sr and for the past five years she has been pastored by her youngest son, Dr. M. Anthony Bell.



Mom Bell served on the kitchen committee; was the President of the Choir; on the Mother's Board, "when she felt like it", and the Pastor's Aide Committee. Mom Bell loved to work in the church and loved to go the extra mile for everyone she could. She never met a stranger or anyone she shouldn't or couldn't help. She always had an encouraging word or sound advice. She would tell you, "You don't believe fat meat's greasy, but you will learn"; or when you messed up and you said you wouldn't do it again, she would always say, "I know you won't".



Mom Bell's interests were her husband and children, and the entire community at large. She plainly loved people and enjoyed being a part of their lives. She was an excellent Cook; you name it, she was going to fix it. She loved watching men enjoy her food. Women just did not eat like she wanted them to. She enjoyed fishing and watching her children play basketball, Chocolate pie, souse meat and rag bologna with a side of crackers and a peach pop.



On June 17, 2014 the Master came and whispered her name. Clymontine answered Him and left for Glory. Waiting to welcome her were her parents, Winford Tharp and Emma Steward; and her brothers, Fred, James Al and Winford Steward. Left behind to miss her dearly are her husband of 55 years, Ben Bell Sr; her children Pastor Ben Bell Jr (Julie), John Evege Bell, Mary Christine Bell, James Curtis Bell, Dr. M. Anthony Bell (Malissa) and her adopted son, Brice Nichols; her siblings, Michael Steward (Della), Bobby Steward (Emma), Levander Steward, Josephine Williams (Anthony), Patricia Madison, Curtis Steward (Rita) and Mary Taylor; her grand children, Dorcelaine (Dominique), Ben III, Aricca, Brian, Mykeshia, Jamilia and Charmaine and great grand children, Amaya, Jayden, Ayanna, Corban, Owen, Jaxson, Latrell, Laniece, NayNay and Alaysia along with many extended relatives, church family and friends.





Cemetery Details Glendale Cemetery 4901 University

Des Moines, IA, 50310



Funeral Service

JUN 28. 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

First Christian Church

2500 University

Des Moines, IA, US