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.