Archie Lane (Buddy) Bell Jr.

Archie Lane (Buddy) Bell Jr. was born on September 16, 1935, to the late Archie Lane Bell Sr. and Lavern Proctor Bell. He passed away on August 12, 2024, at North Mississippi Medical Center in Tupelo, Mississippi. Archie was a 1956 graduate of Walnut High School, where he competed for several Grand Slam Basketball Championships and was a member of the 1954 Grand Slam Championship team. After high school, Archie married Jane Ellen Shackelford on October 12,1956, to which he was a faithful husband for 53 years. In his early years, he was a cattleman, self-employed business owner, and contract mail carrier for over 25 years. Later in life, he worked full time at Tomlinson Hardware. He served on the board of the Tennessee Valley Regional Housing Authority for 47 years, serving as chairman. He was a faithful member and deacon of Tiplersville church of Christ. In his spare time, he enjoyed working in his yard and compiling family research. He took numerous trips all over Tennessee, Mississippi, and South Carolina. He was proud of and loved to talk about the Bell Family living along the northern region of the boundaries of the Alcorn and Tippah County line since 1829. One of his most favorite trips each year was attending “The Diana Singing” every June and September. Known as “Grandaddy” by his grandchildren and “Buddy” by his close friends and relatives, he enjoyed most of all spending time with his friends and family. Archie is preceded in death by his parents; four siblings: Mary Jean Hodum, Dorthy Lee Meeks, Jo Ruth Reed, and Wallace Lane Bell; his wife, Jane Bell; and one son in law, Danny Meeks. Blessed with a loving family, he is survived by one son, Lane Bell (Lynn) of Chalybeate, Mississippi and one daughter, Lisa Meeks of Tiplersville, Mississippi. He is survived by five grandchildren, Libby Meeks Crum (Zack) of Falkner, Mississippi; Leigh Bell Gafford (Austin) of Brighton, Tennessee; Landon Meeks of Tiplersville, Mississippi; Laurie Bell of Memphis, Tennessee; Larson Bell of Chalybeate, Mississippi; one great granddaughter, Hayven Gafford; one brother, Fred Bell of Walnut, MS; one sister, Nora Pickens of Walnut, MS; special caregiver and friend, Erica Hampton; a host of nieces and nephews; and family and friends. Serving as pallbearers are Larson Bell, Zack Crum, Bishop Davis, Austin Gafford, Landon Meeks, Evan Yancey, and Logan Yancey. In lieu of flowers please consider donating to: Rucker Cemetery 137 Shackelford Road Ripley, MS 38663 or Tiplersville Church of Christ 24441 Hwy 15 Tiplersville, MS 38674

Archie Lane (Buddy) Bell Jr.

September 16, 1935 - August 12, 2024