Janice Kaye Bell, age 77, passed away peacefully on July 15th in Hospice care at Maury Regional Medical Center in Columbia. Janice was born in Columbia on September 4, 1948. Her sweet nature, warm smile, and gentle spirit touched everyone who knew her.
Janice was preceded in death by her parents, James Edward and Ruth Bell, special sister Donna Bell Baker, and brother James Edward Bell, Jr. She is survived by sisters Carolyn (Roy) Horton, and Judy (David) Brown; nieces, Cathy Baker Hanes, Carol Baker (David) Scott, and Karen (Chad) Nikazy; nephews, Lindon (Shelia) Baker and Stephen (Kelly) Brown; great nieces and nephews, Jake Sproul, Ethan and Eli Hanes, Isabella, Kate and Max Nikazy, and Thomas and Allen Brown.
Janice graduated from Columbia Central High School in 1966 and received an Associate of Science Degree from Columbia State Community College in 1968. Janice worked at the Holiday Inns in Columbia and Tuscaloosa before moving to California. In California Janice became an apprentice and then a fully qualified union marine electrician working in the US naval shipyards. In 1996, Janice moved to Las Vegas and
worked in the purchasing department at Cole Industries.
In 2021, Janice moved back to Columbia. During the next few years Janice faced some serious health issues, but kept that positive attitude. She loved being with family and kept us all entertained with her great sense of humor. Janice, aka “Jingle Bells”, was a resident at the Morning Pointe Assisted Living facility for several years. Her lovely friends there were like a second family to her.
Janice loved her family members and treasured the times she spent with them. She also loved sports and was the captain of her high school basketball team in 1965-66. Janice always left the annual Daily Herald tennis tournament with an armload of trophies. Janice loved the Tennessee Lady Vols basketball team and her Tennessee orange hoodie was her trademark.
Janice’s family would like to express their gratitude to the staff at Morning Pointe Assisted Living, the second floor nurses and staff at Maury Regional Medical Center, and the nurses with Caris Healthcare Hospice.
Janice will be deeply missed and forever remembered.
Service plans are incomplete at this time.
