Mrs. Wilkie Edna Bell was born Dec. 24, 1930, to the late Mr. Mern and Mrs. Altoria Bickham and she departed from her earthly house to her home in glory at the age of 85 on Jan. 16, 2016, at Our Lady of the Angels Hospital in Bogalusa.

She leaves to cherish her memories: three sisters, Mixcine Bell, Alma (Reginald) Ratliff and Florine Bickham, of Angie; three sisters-in-law, Elois Bickham of Angie, Viola Youngblood of Brown Bay, Miss., and Nancy (R.D.) Bell of Dexter, Miss.; one brother, Melvin Bickham of Angie; five grandchildren, Lorraine (Ronnell) Sartin Jr. of Bogalusa, Shannon Flot of Bogalusa, Nickalus Flot of Slidell, Keyvis Smith of Baton Rouge, and Bianco Lewis of Hattiesburg, Miss.; two great-grandchildren, O’Lando Bell of Baton Rouge and La’Raybeun (Chris) Bell of Bogalusa; 11 great-grandchildren, special friends, a host of nieces, nephews, and other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Dewitt Bell Sr.; parents, Altoria Bickham and Mern Bickham; three sons, Milton Bell, Dewitt Bell Jr. and Samp Bell Jr.; one daughter, Mae Hazel Bell; one sister, Charlene Bickham; one brother, James Bickham; special friend, Robert Buckley; one stillbirth child; two grandsons, Damarqus Bell and Jermaine Bell; and brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law.

Visitation will be held Friday, Jan. 22, at the chapel of Crain and Sons Funeral Home in Bogalusa, from 2 p.m. until 6 p.m.

The funeral service will be held Saturday, Jan. 23, at Greater Ebenezer Baptist Church in Bogalusa, at 10 a.m. with the Rev. Dr. Raymond Mims, pastor, officiating.

Crain and Sons Funeral Home of Bogalusa is in charge of arrangements. Interment will follow in the Bogalusa Cemetery.

Sign the guestbook online at www.crainandsons.com.