Mallard Griffin Bell, Jr., known to his family and friends as Griffin, passed away on Wednesday, September 14, 2022 at his home in Ocilla, Georgia. He was 82 years old.
Funeral services will be held at 2 PM, Saturday, September 24, 2022 at the Paulk Funeral Home Chapel in Ocilla, Georgia. Interment will follow in the Evergreen Cemetery in Fitzgerald, Georgia. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the services at the funeral home.
Griffin was born on April 15, 1940 in Pelham, Georgia to the late Mallard G. and Gertrude Barrineau Bell. He graduated from High School in Belle Glade, Florida. He then graduated from Palm Beach Jr. College in Lake Worth, Florida.
Griffin and his wife, Lynda W. Bell, raised 9 children and have 22 grandchildren, 1 great-grandchild and another great-grandchild on the way.
Griffin is survived by his wife, Lynda W. Bell of Franklin, Kentucky; children: Cynthia and Andrew Burnett of Marco Island, Florida, Donald Bell of Palm Springs, Florida, Daniel Bell of West Palm Beach, Florida, Shawn Bell and Sahra Jabbehdari of Sandy Springs, Georgia, Dorothy and Brian Nelson of Minneola, Florida, Angela Garcia of New Port Richey, Florida, Robert Bell of Minneola, Florida, Jennifer and Jeremy Brewer of Pulaski, Tennessee; and two sisters: Gail Hatfield and Wanda Kennedy. Several nieces and nephews also survive. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his son, Stewart Bell, his brother, Gene, and two sisters, Dorothy Bell and Thelma Green.
Griffin loved sports and coached all of his five sons in baseball - fondly talking about those days to family and friends. He enjoyed gardening, growing vegetables and loved his animals. He enjoyed talking to people and making new friends. He owned The Antique Shop, Bell Enterprises in Ocilla, Georgia and loved attending auctions. He had many years of church service and was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
Griffin worked for the USDA as a research technician specializing in agriculture with a specialty in sugar cane cultivation and disease prevention. His research was published by the Smithsonian Institution. After retiring from the USDA, Griffin spent time in Florida and then moved to Ocilla Ga.