George E. Bell

Lexington—A graveside service for George E. Bell, 91, of Lexington, will be held at Noon, Wednesday, February 10, 2021, in Fort Jackson National Cemetery with military honors and Masonic rites. The Reverend David Anderson of St. George Baptist Church will officiate. Physical distancing and masks are required for COVID protocol.Temples Halloran Funeral Home is assisting the family. George passed away on Saturday, January 30, 2021.He was born on January 24, 1930, on a farm in Orangeburg, SC to the late Donovan Bell and Dessie W. Bell. He was a graduate of Cordova High School and Clemson A&M College with a Bachelor of Science in Animal Husbandry. George proudly served as First Lieutenant in the United States Army during the Korean Conflict and as a member of the South Carolina National Guard. He was a member of St. Andrews Baptist Church, Columbia, SC, and later St. George Baptist Church, Orangeburg, SC. At St. Andrews church he held several leadership roles including deacon and small group leader for Royal Ambassadors. George was a charter member of the Jamil Shrine Temple, Scottish Rite, and Boyleston Masonic Lodge. He was also an alumni member of the Clemson Chapter of Delta Chi. While at Clemson George was in the Reserve Officers Training Corps and Pershing Rifles. He earned the role as Company C-4 commander. After his military service, George ran a dairy with his family in Cordova until he joined the Clemson Extension Service in Hampton County where he met his future bride. Both he and Marie enjoyed working with youth and organized 4-H programs in Hampton county. They moved to Richland county and he and later became County Agent. In 1962 he began with the then South Carolina Marketing Commission later known as the South Carolina Department of Agriculture. George led the Columbia State Farmer’s Market until his retirement in 1985. During his tenure with the Farmer’s Market, he represented South Carolina in the National Association of Produce Market Managers (NAPMM) and North American Agricultural Marketing Officials. He led the NAPMM organization as president 1972-73, hosted the 1976 Annual Conference in Columbia, and was awarded the Market Manager of the Year in 1977. He enjoyed seeing farm-to-table production as well as personally producing vegetables in Orangeburg county. The State newspaper Neighbor’s section caption heralding his retirement read, “You can take the boy out of the country, but you can’t take the country out of the boy”. In his retirement, he returned to his roots in agricultural production. He began a farrow-to-finish pork production operation and commodity row crop farming. He also dearly loved to grow and share his garden bounty. A “small garden” typically included at least an acre. A child of the Great Depression, he wanted to have plenty to share. Wonderful memories and stories were made at his “peanut boiling” events hosted on the back porch of his boyhood home in Cordova. He and Marie traveled as citizen ambassadors with People-to-People to Russia, China, New Zealand, and Australia. Survived by his son, Ed Bell (Julia) of Lexington, SC; grandchildren, Anne Marie Bell and Coulter Bell; and brother, Jack Bell of Raleigh, NC. George is preceded in death by his loving wife, Marie S. Bell; sisters, Elizabeth Hughes, Christine Hughes, and Mary Griffith; and brothers, William Jesse Bell and Dr. Donovan Bell. The family would like to express heartfelt appreciation to Margaret Phillips for her devoted and caring friendship with him. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to organizations that support George’s passion for growing God’s kingdom and investing in future generations. Connie Maxwell Children’s Home, 810 Maxwell Avenue, Greenwood, SC 29646, St. Andrews Baptist Church Mission Fund, 230 Bush River Road, Columbia, SC 29210, or St. George Baptist Church Mission Fund, 2590 Shillings Bridge Road, Orangeburg, SC 29115.