Berneal Bell

On November 1, 1930, in the vibrant city of New Orleans, Louisiana, a precious new chapter began. Born to the union of William Bell, Jr. and Elizabeth Howard Bell, Berneal was the third of eight children and grew up surrounded by the hum of family, faith, and love. On Saturday, August 9, 2025, at the age of 94 years young, Berneal received her final and most treasured passport stamp — her heavenly stamp. Raised in a Christian home, Berneal accepted Christ as her Savior at an early age. She was baptized by the late Rev. Horace Leonard at Greater King Solomon Missionary Baptist Church, where she remained a faithful member throughout her life. Her educational journey began as a young scholar at Rudolph T. Daneel Elementary School and Booker T. Washington Senior High School. She continued to the Grambling State University, where she proudly earned her Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education. She was a proud Grambling Tiger! Berneal devoted 32 years to shaping young scholars. She began her career in the Plaquemines Parish School System, later teaching at John H. Martin in Jefferson Parish, Holy Ghost Catholic School in New Orleans, and then within the Orleans Parish School System at Tommy Lafon and Hoffman Elementary Schools. Her dedication to her scholars went beyond the lesson plans. She believed in showing up, in every sense of the word, and made it her mission to be present for her scholars every single day. Her remarkable perfect attendance earned her an award and a feature in a local newspaper article titled, “Still Perfect After All These Years.” Outside the classroom, Berneal’s life was filled with joy, curiosity, and adventure. She was an avid bowler and a passionate traveler. When the last school bell rang each year, she would pack her bags and set off for her next summer destination. Her travels took her across the globe — Paris, London, Ghana, Jerusalem, Alaska, New York, Washington, D.C., the Bahamas, Hawaii, and countless other places. She also enjoyed the gentle rhythm of cruises and the camaraderie of bus tours. Berneal was an artist at heart. She found joy in creating, especially when decorating Zulu coconuts. She proudly rode in the Zulu parade for several years and often said that if she could do one thing again, it would be to ride once more. Even after she stopped, she continued to craft beautiful coconuts for other riders, each one a small work of art. She was preceded in death by her parents, William Bell, Jr. and Marietta Howard Bell; her siblings Arthur L. Baptiste, Yvonne B. Bradley, Alcee M. Bell, Althea B. Cooper, Elaine B. Pierce, and Russell W. Bell, Sr.; nephews Anthony J. Pierce, Howard Cooper, and Dwayne R. Pierce; and niece Darlene B. Murray. She leaves to cherish her memory one brother, Clement C. Bell (Dianne), along with a host of nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, cousins, and friends who will carry her light forward. Berneal’s life was a journey well-traveled, a passport filled with love, laughter, and faith. Now, she has arrived at her final destination, and the welcome there is surely as grand as the adventures she embraced on earth. Relatives and friends of the family are invited to attend a Funeral Service honoring the life of Ms. Berneal Bell at Greater King Solomon Missionary Baptist Church, 3305 Audubon Street, New Orleans, LA on Saturday, August 16, 2025 at 10:00am. Visitation will begin at 9:00am until 10:00am. Internment: Providence Memorial Park Cemetery, Metairie, LA. Arrangements entrusted to D.W. Rhodes Funeral Home, 3933 Washington Ave., New Orleans, LA 70125. Please visit www.rhodesfuneral.com to sign the guestbook, share memories and condolences with the family.