Freestone County, Texas
Obituaries


Mrs. Jo Ann (Philpott) Bell

The Angelic Hosts came for Mrs. Jo Ann Philpott Bell, 75, at Covenant Hospital 
in Lubbock, Texas among loving family and devoted friends. Viewing was held Friday, 
February 20, at Moore’s Angelic Funeral Home, Teague, Texas. Funeral Services 
were held Saturday, February 21, 2015 – at Salem Missionary Baptist Church, 
Teague, where Rev. E.O. Riley, Pastor, served as the Eulogist and Rev. Roosevelt 
Nickerson officiated. Interment followed at Salem Cemetery, Teague, Texas.

Jo Ann Bell was the 11th of 12 children born to Joe Philpott and Verona Standmire 
Philpott on April 7, 1939 in the Salem Community of Freestone County, Texas. Jo 
Ann grew up in Freestone County and attended the public schools there. She 
graduated with the Class of 1957 from Booker T. Washington High School in Teague, 
Texas. She was a Cosmetologist and worked at Covenant Hospital in Lubbock, Texas 
for 12 years as a CNA.

Jo Ann accepted Christ into her life at age 12 during Revival one summer night 
and united with Salem Baptist Church.

Jo Ann married Johnny J. Bell in Tyler, Texas. She was a devoted wife and mother 
and spent most of her time and energy as a caregiver to her family. Over the 
years she enjoyed gardening, sewing, quilting, and playing the piano. She was a 
pianist at Salem and Jerusalem Baptist Churches in Freestone County. She served 
as a pianist in Tyler, Kilgore, and Lubbock, Texas. She was a member and pianist 
at Rising Star Baptist Church in Lubbock, Texas.

Jo Ann Bell was preceded in death by her parents: Joe and Verona Philpott; her 
brothers: Hermit and Claude Philpott; and her sisters: Ida Mae Johnson, Loressa 
Hollie, Letha Jackson, Alvernea Smith, and Lurlean Brown.

Those left behind to celebrate her life and share in her memories include: her 
husband: Johnny J. Bell, her sons: Kenneth M. Bell, and Shermaun Durez Bell and 
wife Rochelle; her daughter: Gwen Taylor, all of Lubbock, Texas; her brother: 
Eli Philpott, Los Angeles, California; her sisters: Claudine Curry and Vera White, 
both of Teague, Texas; and Ruby Fay Henderson, Ft. Worth, Texas; and a host of 
nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.

Moore’s Angelic Funeral Home will serve the family of Jo Ann Philpott. 

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Southwest Digest newspaper, Thursday, April 2, 2015 Page 5

                         Jo Ann Philpott Bell
  Teague, Texas — Funeral services were held for Jo Ann Philpott Bell on Saturday 
morning, February 21, 2015, at the Salem Missionary Baptist Church with Rev. F. 
O. Riley, pastor, as Eulogist. Rev. Roosevelt Nickerson was the Officiant. 
  Interment followed in Salem Cemetery in Teague under the direction of Moore’s 
Angelic Funeral Home of Teague, Texas. She passed away on Friday, February 13, 
2015, at 12:25 p.m. at Covenant Hospital in Lubbock, Texas among loving family
and devoted friends.
  She was the eleventh of 12 children bom to Joe Philpott and Verona Standmire 
on April 17, 1939 in the Salem Community of Freestone County, Texas. Jo Ann grew 
up in Freestone County and attended the public schools there. She graduated with 
the Class of 1957 from Booker T. Washington High School in Teague, Texas. She was 
a Cosmetologist and worked at Covenant Hospital in Lubbock for 12 years as a CNA.
Jo Ann accepted Christ into her life at age 12 during a Revival one summer night 
and united with Salem Baptist Church. Jo Ann married Johnny J. Bell in Tyler, 
Texas. She was a devoted wife and mother, and spent most of her time and energy
as a caregiver to her family. Over the years, she enjoyed gardening, sewing, 
quilting, and playing the piano. She was a pianist at Salem and Jerusalem Baptist 
Churches in Freestone County. She also served as a pianist in Tyler, Kilgore, and 
Lubbock, Texas. She was a member and pianist at Rising Star Baptist Church in 
Lubbock.
  Jo Ann Bell was preceded in death by her parents: Joe and Verona Philpott; her 
brothers: Hermit and Claude Philpott; and her sisters: Ida Mae Johnson, Loressa 
Hollie, Letha Jackson, Alvemea Smith, and Lurlean Brown. Those left behind to 
celebrate her life and share in her memories: her husband, Johnny J. Bell; her 
sons: Kenneth M. Bell and Shermaun Durez Bell and wife Rochelle; her daughter,
Gwen Taylor, all of Lubbock, Texas; her brother, Eli Philpott of Los Angeles, 
California; her sisters: Claudine Curry and Vera White, both of Teague, Texas,
and Ruby Fay Henderson of Ft. Worth, Texas; and a host of nieces, nephews, other 
relatives, and friends. Pallbearers were: Michael Brown, Jerald Henderson, Lester 
Brown, Jr., Donnie Ray Jones, and Donald Henderson. Honorary Pallbearers were:
Roger Levels, Manning Stephens, Lewis High, Roger Tatum, Alfred Hiigh, and
Charles Ray Levels. Flower Bearers were members of the Choir.
of the Choir.