Mattie Bell was born to Sam Allen and Lillie Fox on December 2, 1921 in Yazoo City, Mississippi. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Robert Bell, four brothers, Kelly B., Lee Russell, S.D., and Sam Jr. Allen, grandson, Clyrone Lee and her son, Marion Lee.
She attended Kelly School in Anding, Mississippi. She was united in marriage to Robert Bell and moved to St. Louis, Missouri in 1952, making it her home. She worked at Barnes Hospital, retiring as a supply technician. Mattie enjoyed cooking big dinners for the family, and it didn’t have to be a holiday. Everyone loved her peach cobbler. She was a good mother, grandmother, aunt, sister and friend.
In 1972, Mattie converted to Catholic at Nativity Parish. Since then she became a member of Corpus Christi Parish which is now Holy Name of Jesus Parish. She was an active member for over twenty five years.
She departed this life on August 20, 2010. She leaves to cherish her memories: one daughter, Marie Hobbs-Allen; one sister, Estella Jelks; twelve grandchildren, eleven great-grandchildren, seven great-great-grandchildren, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.