Obituary of Letia Violet Bell

God called our beloved Letia Violet Bell to his heavenly home on Friday December 9th 2016. Tia as she was affectionately called was the daughter of the late Howard Gilliam Sr. and Norma Gilliam. Letia often referred to herself as a daddy’s girl and often told stories of her extraordinary relationship with her father. Tia was born on July 10, 1977 in Philadelphia, PA. She graduated from Parkway High School in 1995 and received her B.S. degree in Accounting from Pierce College in 2008. Tia worked for the North Philadelphia Health System (St. Joes Hospital) for 19 years as a patient access representative and later as a medical biller and coder. Tia loved her job and her beloved co-workers; she had a gift for learning the latest medical codes and new advances in her field. Tia accepted the Christ as her savior as a young child at Christ Tabernacle Church of Philadelphia. In her formative years she sang on the choir and ushered in the church. Tia later became a member of the Yesha Ministries Worship Center in 2003, where she served faithfully until her transition. Tia was a member of the finance committee as well as a member of the Yesha Dance team, dancing even through her illness. Tia was revered by her church family and quickly became Bishop Robinson’s “favorite” member. During a trip with her best friend Jennifer Evans to the Ruwach United Fellowship Spirit and Power Conference in Orlando, Florida in 2002, Letia met her future husband Andrew T. Bell, Sr. Andrew and Tia later married on July 8th 2006 and from this union two children were born Zoe Nichole (8) and Andrew Jr. (5). Tia loved to travel with her family, whether to Trinidad with her cousins, aunts and uncles; Cancun with friends or state side, Tia was always ready to get away. In recent years Tia spent the summers traveling with the Benn and Bell clans on family vacations. Tia was a sweet and caring person who had a smile that would brighten any room. She was always upbeat and positive and throughout her illness Tia’s response to the question of how she was doing was always the same “I’m doing fine”. Her kind spirit affected everyone she met. You would be hard pressed to find anyone who had an aught with her. Tia was a peacemaker and a lover of people and life. Tia loved to support others, she would attend any event she was invited to and support wholeheartedly with her time, effort and finances. Preceding Tia in death was her father, the late Howard Gilliam Sr. Tia slipped away peacefully in the early morning of December 9th. She leaves to celebrate her legacy her husband, Andrew T. Bell, Sr., daughter Zoe Nichole and son Andrew Jr., Mother Norma Gilliam, two sisters, Tanya Plummer and Tamika Gilliam; two brothers Howard Gilliam Jr. and Richard Gilliam. Two sister-in laws Melanie Gazaway and Natalie Bell, two brother-in-laws Marcus Bell and Anthony Bell. A host of aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews, God -children, Judah Sandridge and Janae Adams. A multitude of friends, relatives and the household of faith.