Mary Geneva Barger Bell

Mary Geneva Barger Bell, 98, of Carolina House died Thursday, May 09, 2013, at Carolina House. A memorial service will be held at 4 p.m. Saturday, May 11, 2013, at the First Lutheran Church Family Life Center, 318 South State Street, Lexington, following a private burial service at Forest Hill Memorial Park. The family will receive friends following the service at the Family Life Center. Mrs. Bell was born October 1, 1914, in Davidson County, to James R. Barger and Nettie Mae Briggs Barger. She was employed in the “drawing-in” department of Frank Ix & Sons textile mill until retirement. She was very active in the First Lutheran Church, as a long-time choir member, Sunday school teacher, and one of the first women to serve on Church Council. In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by her husband, Harold L. Bell; daughter, Marcia J. Bell; son, Michael H. Bell; sisters, Essie Young, Callie Kluttz, Myrtle Briggs, and Gurla Watson; and brothers, Marvin Barger, James “Buck” Barger and Jacob “Jake” Barger. She is survived by her son, Frank Bell and wife Laura Lu Hedrick of Lexington; grandson, Austin H. Bell of Los Angeles, CA.; sisters, Georgia Harris of Greensboro, Lizzie Wagner and Peggy Koontz, both of Salisbury; brothers, Tom Barger of Salisbury and Joe Barger of Ringgold, Ga.; and many nieces and nephews. A special thanks is given for the tireless care and love given to “GeeGee” by her niece, Mary Ruth Sheets, all the staff of Carolina House of Lexington, Hospice of Davidson County, and Jane and Robert Hedrick. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to First Lutheran Church, P.O. Box 308, Lexington, NC 27293.