Mrs. Elsie Mae Bell, age 88, of Lyerly, GA, died Tuesday, December 19, 2023, at her residence.

Mrs. Bell was born April 27, 1935, in Menlo, GA, daughter Charles Sanford Allen and Bertha Mae DeBerry Allen.  She was a homemaker and a member of Belmont Baptist Church.

In addition to her parents, Mrs. Bell was preceded in death by her husband, William A. Bell; a daughter, Tracey Ledford; sisters, Pauline Tucker, Mittie Lee Payton, and Mary Alice Norton; brothers, Robert Allen and Lonnie Allen.

Survivors include her son, Milo Bell (Vera Johnson); daughter, Mary (Terry) Pettyjohn; a brother, Charles “Junior” Allen; sister, Doris Maxey; 7 grandchildren; Tyler "Destince" Bell, Brittany Pettyjohn, Justin Pettyjohn, Ashley Pettyjohn, Lori Trail, Sheree Vallejo; and 21 great-grandchildren.

Graveside and interment services will be held at 11:00 A.M. Friday, December 22, 2023, at Johnson Cemetery.  Pallbearers will be Vick Norton, Anniston Mann, Justin Pettyjohn, Daniel Scott, Gary Allen, and Andy Payton.

Mrs. Bell will be in state at Mason Funeral Home and the family will receive friends from 9:30 until 10:30 A.M. Friday.