Juanita Maxcine Bell, daughter of John Waddy and Jessie Walton Bell was born on October 14, 1932, in Powhatan County Virginia. She was the youngest of eight children: Viola, John, Alonzo, Mattie, Samuel, Celestine, and Eugertha.

She accepted Jesus Christ as her personal savior at an early age she was baptized into the fellowship of Mount Zion Baptist Church where her membership remained.

She received her education at Pocahontas High School and graduated in 1950. She was one of eighteen students. Her class was the last class to graduate from the 11th grade, which was the required graduating grade at that time.

She remained in Powhatan after graduation tending to her father, John Waddy Bell, working on the farm and working as a clerk in a family store.

In 1956 Juanita decided she had enough of farming and went off to Washington D.C. looking for bigger and better challenges. There she was employed at the Pentagon as a hospitality host, a bookkeeper at Thompson Construction, and a daycare provider.

In 1962 Juanita was blessed with her first daughter, Latanya and three years later, she was blessed with her second daughter, Lolita.

In 1973 Juanita decided to return to Powhatan with her two daughters to help take care of her ailing father and spend time with her family.

She started working as an In-Home health provider and continued doing that until her own health began to decline. She enjoyed caring for people and children; she never met a person she didn't like, and kids were just drawn to her pleasant demeanor and sweet smile.

Juanita was very family oriented, she enjoyed being around her family and if you ever heard all the stories she told, you would be entertained for hours, from hilarious to OMG!

We never had a function without her being there, we especially loved listening to her many adventurous stories, she would literally have you in stitches, Half the time you didn't know if it was the truth or a tall tale, but it all sounded good!

If you ever needed a lesson in "CUSSING" you should have attended the Juanita School of Foreign Languages!

Juanita enjoyed gardening, watching wrestling, (if you told her, it was fake, you better be ready for a fight!!), Spending Christmas time with family, making that dandelion and grape wine and working in her yard.

She was preceded in death by her parents, John, and Jessie Bell; grandson, RaShad; three brothers, John, Alonzo, and Samuel; four sisters, Mattie, Eugertha, Viola and Celestine.

Cherishing her memories are her children, LaTanya, and Lolita; three grandchildren, DeRon, LaVante and Rockeem; six great grandchildren: Alyssa, Tyler, Amaya, Jordyn, Alayana, and Little RaShad; two great-great grandchildren, Reagan Gravely, Karsyn Carter; bonus sisters, Mabel Walton, and Ophelia Watson and a host of nieces, nephews, and friends.

Dedicated and committed individuals who cared for and stood by her from beginning to end during her illness: Mattie, Helen, Josephine, Vanessa, Valerie, and Earl. Let's not forget her personal chauffeur "Elwood!"

Her one in a million special caregiver, who was just like a daughter, Sherice Garrett, words cannot express how Juanita felt about Sherice and loved her as her own flesh and blood.

My Mother Kept a Garden

My mother kept a garden

A garden of the heart

She planted all the good things

That gave my life its start

She turned me to the sunshine

And encouraged me to dream

Fostering and nurturing

The seeds of self-esteem

And when the winds and rain came

She protected me enough

But not too much because she knew

I'd need to stand up strong and tough

Her constant good example

Always taught me right from wrong

Markers for my pathway

That will last a lifetime long

I am my mother's garden

I am her legacy

And I hope today she feels the love

Reflected back from me.

(author unknown)

Live Facebook Streaming: Leta Renee

Acknowledgments

During a time like this, we realize how much our friends mean to us.

Your expression of sympathy will always be remembered.

To Sherice

We can never thank you enough for your unwavering dedication.

We appreciate your love, care, and support shown to Mom during her illness.

You are one in a million as a person and as Mom's caregiver, words cannot express how much you and your services meant to us.

The Family