David A. Bell, Jr.

Please click here to view the live stream of the funeral service. The live stream of the funeral service for Mr. David A. Bell, Jr. will begin at 1:00pm on Friday, April 1st.

David Anderson Bell, Jr. was born on July 14, 1941 in Washington, DC.  He was the 2^nd child to the late David A. and Estella Bell.  He was raised in the Christian Faith.  David was a gentle and kind man with an abundance of patience and a quiet presence.  He was the embodiment of Agape Love and was loved by all; besides Daddy, he was affectionately known as Babe, Charlie, Daddy Bell, Pa Bell, Granddad and Grandpa.

David departed this life on Saturday, March 20, 2021 at Holy Cross Hospital in Silver Spring, MD.  He received his education in the District of Columbia Public School System and graduated from Phelps Vocational High School.  He enjoyed singing and was a member of the Dynamic Superiors for a brief time.  He joined the US Navy and traveled the world on the USS Henley and USS Willard Keith.  During his time in the Navy, he met the love of his life, Doris Jean Kersey Little in Boston, Massachusetts.

After an honorable discharge from the Navy as a Shipfitter Petty Officer 3^rd Class, David began a 47-year career at the U.S. Postal Service (USPS).  His first job was to sort mail on the train as it traveled the east coast.  He then began working at the Main Post Office in Washington, DC.  While at USPS, he was further trained as an Electronic Technician at Oklahoma University. He was instrumental in implementing the Letter Sorting Machine and received accommodation from President Nixon.

David and Doris married on September 19, 1964.  For 56 years they were inseparable.  He enjoyed whatever she cooked or baked for him. Together they enjoyed many road trips and attended as many family reunions as possible, sometimes 4 in a year. They moved to Ft. Washington, Maryland in 1975, where they raised their four children.  He loved the water and insured that they all learned to swim at an early age; and jumped at the opportunity to take a cruise.  David was an avid music lover and enjoyed singing along to the oldies.  He was also a big “Redskins” fan and technology enthusiast, always interested in obtaining the newest gadgets – computers, cameras, video games, phones etc.  He even built a floor model television in the 70’s.

David’s favorite expressions were “keep hope alive” and “have I told you lately that I love you”. He enjoyed playing chess and reading Stephen King novels.  He was known by most relatives as the family historian; as he placed a high value on knowing one’s family tree and took the time to meticulously create and update them whenever there was a birth, marriage, or death. He also insured that there was a tree presented at every family reunion.

David leaves to cherish his memory, wife Doris; daughters Felicia Brooks (Ernest), Sonja Whitted (Harold), Davidia Thompson (David), son David Bell III (Monique), dedicated son Dwayne Price and stepson Kenneth Kersey; grandchildren Marc, Mikal, Yasmine, David II, Desmond, Naadira, Siddiq, Najimah, Mychael, David IV and Madonna; great grandchildren April, Joshua, Noah and Nyela; siblings Dolores Ealy-O’Neal (Roosevelt O’Neal) and Tyrone Bell (Dr. Mary Benjamin); sister-in-law Saundra Little; and a host of nieces, nephews, “godchildren”, cousins, other relatives and friends.