Wives:
1) Mildred Lucille Merritt - m. 8 Jul 1933, Heflin, Cleburne County, Alabama. Albert loved her immensely, and she was the mother of their four children. She left him for another man, and they divorced, but Albert still loved her, even until his death. (She preceded him in death.)
2) Essie Mae (Baker) Beasley - m. abt. 1971. Essie was the divorcee of Lawrence Lee Beasley, Sr., who was remembered for being cruel to his wife, eventually leaving her to raise their seven children. I remember Essie well. She was one of the gentlest, sweetest women to ever grace this planet. To better detail just how sweet she was, when Mildred (Albert's first wife) became ill with melanoma, Essie would drive Mildred all over the area to her doctor appointments. They actually became friends, with Essie caring for her as she would her own sister. Albert loved Essie and her children, as though they were his, too. He was always very loving to her and kind. I remember them being so sweet and caring towards one another. There was a calm, gentle, and sweet feeling when you entered their home, and that is one of my earliest memories of family. If this description does not say enough about how much they cared for each other, Essie, although 12 years Albert's junior, passed away just one week after he did. Each suffering from cancer, Albert with colon cancer and Essie with bone cancer, were on the same floor in the same hospital receiving treatment, just down the hall from each other.
Early years:
Albert was known by family and friends as "Ab." In his early years, he had bright red hair and was appropriately nicknamed "Red."
In about 1919, Albert's father, John Jehu Bell, left his first wife and children and went to Arkansas, where he married Aletha Mae (Thomas) and had more children. No official divorce was ever finalized between John and Martha. He just left one day. In fact, his youngest son by Martha, Alvin "Murdock," was not yet born when he left, and the family had it very hard, especially during the Great Depression years that soon followed. According to Margie (Bell) Welch, one of John's daughters by Aletha, John was very sorrowful in his later years about leaving his first family.
Albert was the oldest of his siblings and did all that he could to provide for his mother and his siblings. He even participated in the risky business of moonshining, but he was caught when the police arrived, everyone ran, and he returned for the shoes he had just bought and accidentally left behind. He had removed the newly purchased shoes in order to keep them from being damaged while working the still. He served two years, hard labor, in prison for this act. He later served again for a short period of time for the same crime. Although illegal, moonshining was one of the few ways he was able to provide enough money for his mother and siblings. I can't speak for my great grandfather, but I have a feeling that he would say he would do it all again, so as to ensure that his family was provided for.
My great grandfather was loving, kind, and hilarious. He loved to tease, but it was always in good fun. He used to make me laugh with his Donald Duck impressions. He loved his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren immensely, as well as each of his two wives, and his stepchildren and their families.
Albert was extremely strong and hard working. He and his first wife, Mildred, worked at the Cotton Mill (American Thread Co.) in Tallapoosa. His job was to pull the threads down and tie knots as fast as he could. This proved to be quite a workout on the arms, and as a result, he was extremely strong. I remember that he had this strength even as an elderly man after he had retired.
Ab was known for wearing his cap cocked to one side and for his constant whistling, everywhere he went. He was also known for his old truck, which he sped around in everywhere he went. You did not get in his way! And if you were behind him, he would quickly leave you in the dust - even in his elderly years, he was a "speed demon" on the road.
Sadly, I remember him suffering from Alzheimer's at the very end of his life, and it was colon cancer that took take his life in 1990, just a couple of weeks before Christmas.
He is dearly loved and missed.
Bio by Arabelle
1) Mildred Lucille Merritt - m. 8 Jul 1933, Heflin, Cleburne County, Alabama. Albert loved her immensely, and she was the mother of their four children. She left him for another man, and they divorced, but Albert still loved her, even until his death. (She preceded him in death.)
2) Essie Mae (Baker) Beasley - m. abt. 1971. Essie was the divorcee of Lawrence Lee Beasley, Sr., who was remembered for being cruel to his wife, eventually leaving her to raise their seven children. I remember Essie well. She was one of the gentlest, sweetest women to ever grace this planet. To better detail just how sweet she was, when Mildred (Albert's first wife) became ill with melanoma, Essie would drive Mildred all over the area to her doctor appointments. They actually became friends, with Essie caring for her as she would her own sister. Albert loved Essie and her children, as though they were his, too. He was always very loving to her and kind. I remember them being so sweet and caring towards one another. There was a calm, gentle, and sweet feeling when you entered their home, and that is one of my earliest memories of family. If this description does not say enough about how much they cared for each other, Essie, although 12 years Albert's junior, passed away just one week after he did. Each suffering from cancer, Albert with colon cancer and Essie with bone cancer, were on the same floor in the same hospital receiving treatment, just down the hall from each other.
Early years:
Albert was known by family and friends as "Ab." In his early years, he had bright red hair and was appropriately nicknamed "Red."
In about 1919, Albert's father, John Jehu Bell, left his first wife and children and went to Arkansas, where he married Aletha Mae (Thomas) and had more children. No official divorce was ever finalized between John and Martha. He just left one day. In fact, his youngest son by Martha, Alvin "Murdock," was not yet born when he left, and the family had it very hard, especially during the Great Depression years that soon followed. According to Margie (Bell) Welch, one of John's daughters by Aletha, John was very sorrowful in his later years about leaving his first family.
Albert was the oldest of his siblings and did all that he could to provide for his mother and his siblings. He even participated in the risky business of moonshining, but he was caught when the police arrived, everyone ran, and he returned for the shoes he had just bought and accidentally left behind. He had removed the newly purchased shoes in order to keep them from being damaged while working the still. He served two years, hard labor, in prison for this act. He later served again for a short period of time for the same crime. Although illegal, moonshining was one of the few ways he was able to provide enough money for his mother and siblings. I can't speak for my great grandfather, but I have a feeling that he would say he would do it all again, so as to ensure that his family was provided for.
My great grandfather was loving, kind, and hilarious. He loved to tease, but it was always in good fun. He used to make me laugh with his Donald Duck impressions. He loved his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren immensely, as well as each of his two wives, and his stepchildren and their families.
Albert was extremely strong and hard working. He and his first wife, Mildred, worked at the Cotton Mill (American Thread Co.) in Tallapoosa. His job was to pull the threads down and tie knots as fast as he could. This proved to be quite a workout on the arms, and as a result, he was extremely strong. I remember that he had this strength even as an elderly man after he had retired.
Ab was known for wearing his cap cocked to one side and for his constant whistling, everywhere he went. He was also known for his old truck, which he sped around in everywhere he went. You did not get in his way! And if you were behind him, he would quickly leave you in the dust - even in his elderly years, he was a "speed demon" on the road.
Sadly, I remember him suffering from Alzheimer's at the very end of his life, and it was colon cancer that took take his life in 1990, just a couple of weeks before Christmas.
He is dearly loved and missed.
Bio by Arabelle
Wives:
1) Mildred Lucille Merritt - m. 8 Jul 1933, Heflin, Cleburne County, Alabama. Albert loved her immensely, and she was the mother of their four children. She left him for another man, and they divorced, but Albert still loved her, even until his death. (She preceded him in death.)
2) Essie Mae (Baker) Beasley - m. abt. 1971. Essie was the divorcee of Lawrence Lee Beasley, Sr., who was remembered for being cruel to his wife, eventually leaving her to raise their seven children. I remember Essie well. She was one of the gentlest, sweetest women to ever grace this planet. To better detail just how sweet she was, when Mildred (Albert's first wife) became ill with melanoma, Essie would drive Mildred all over the area to her doctor appointments. They actually became friends, with Essie caring for her as she would her own sister. Albert loved Essie and her children, as though they were his, too. He was always very loving to her and kind. I remember them being so sweet and caring towards one another. There was a calm, gentle, and sweet feeling when you entered their home, and that is one of my earliest memories of family. If this description does not say enough about how much they cared for each other, Essie, although 12 years Albert's junior, passed away just one week after he did. Each suffering from cancer, Albert with colon cancer and Essie with bone cancer, were on the same floor in the same hospital receiving treatment, just down the hall from each other.
Early years:
Albert was known by family and friends as "Ab." In his early years, he had bright red hair and was appropriately nicknamed "Red."
In about 1919, Albert's father, John Jehu Bell, left his first wife and children and went to Arkansas, where he married Aletha Mae (Thomas) and had more children. No official divorce was ever finalized between John and Martha. He just left one day. In fact, his youngest son by Martha, Alvin "Murdock," was not yet born when he left, and the family had it very hard, especially during the Great Depression years that soon followed. According to Margie (Bell) Welch, one of John's daughters by Aletha, John was very sorrowful in his later years about leaving his first family.
Albert was the oldest of his siblings and did all that he could to provide for his mother and his siblings. He even participated in the risky business of moonshining, but he was caught when the police arrived, everyone ran, and he returned for the shoes he had just bought and accidentally left behind. He had removed the newly purchased shoes in order to keep them from being damaged while working the still. He served two years, hard labor, in prison for this act. He later served again for a short period of time for the same crime. Although illegal, moonshining was one of the few ways he was able to provide enough money for his mother and siblings. I can't speak for my great grandfather, but I have a feeling that he would say he would do it all again, so as to ensure that his family was provided for.
My great grandfather was loving, kind, and hilarious. He loved to tease, but it was always in good fun. He used to make me laugh with his Donald Duck impressions. He loved his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren immensely, as well as each of his two wives, and his stepchildren and their families.
Albert was extremely strong and hard working. He and his first wife, Mildred, worked at the Cotton Mill (American Thread Co.) in Tallapoosa. His job was to pull the threads down and tie knots as fast as he could. This proved to be quite a workout on the arms, and as a result, he was extremely strong. I remember that he had this strength even as an elderly man after he had retired.
Ab was known for wearing his cap cocked to one side and for his constant whistling, everywhere he went. He was also known for his old truck, which he sped around in everywhere he went. You did not get in his way! And if you were behind him, he would quickly leave you in the dust - even in his elderly years, he was a "speed demon" on the road.
Sadly, I remember him suffering from Alzheimer's at the very end of his life, and it was colon cancer that took take his life in 1990, just a couple of weeks before Christmas.
He is dearly loved and missed.
Bio by Arabelle
1) Mildred Lucille Merritt - m. 8 Jul 1933, Heflin, Cleburne County, Alabama. Albert loved her immensely, and she was the mother of their four children. She left him for another man, and they divorced, but Albert still loved her, even until his death. (She preceded him in death.)
2) Essie Mae (Baker) Beasley - m. abt. 1971. Essie was the divorcee of Lawrence Lee Beasley, Sr., who was remembered for being cruel to his wife, eventually leaving her to raise their seven children. I remember Essie well. She was one of the gentlest, sweetest women to ever grace this planet. To better detail just how sweet she was, when Mildred (Albert's first wife) became ill with melanoma, Essie would drive Mildred all over the area to her doctor appointments. They actually became friends, with Essie caring for her as she would her own sister. Albert loved Essie and her children, as though they were his, too. He was always very loving to her and kind. I remember them being so sweet and caring towards one another. There was a calm, gentle, and sweet feeling when you entered their home, and that is one of my earliest memories of family. If this description does not say enough about how much they cared for each other, Essie, although 12 years Albert's junior, passed away just one week after he did. Each suffering from cancer, Albert with colon cancer and Essie with bone cancer, were on the same floor in the same hospital receiving treatment, just down the hall from each other.
Early years:
Albert was known by family and friends as "Ab." In his early years, he had bright red hair and was appropriately nicknamed "Red."
In about 1919, Albert's father, John Jehu Bell, left his first wife and children and went to Arkansas, where he married Aletha Mae (Thomas) and had more children. No official divorce was ever finalized between John and Martha. He just left one day. In fact, his youngest son by Martha, Alvin "Murdock," was not yet born when he left, and the family had it very hard, especially during the Great Depression years that soon followed. According to Margie (Bell) Welch, one of John's daughters by Aletha, John was very sorrowful in his later years about leaving his first family.
Albert was the oldest of his siblings and did all that he could to provide for his mother and his siblings. He even participated in the risky business of moonshining, but he was caught when the police arrived, everyone ran, and he returned for the shoes he had just bought and accidentally left behind. He had removed the newly purchased shoes in order to keep them from being damaged while working the still. He served two years, hard labor, in prison for this act. He later served again for a short period of time for the same crime. Although illegal, moonshining was one of the few ways he was able to provide enough money for his mother and siblings. I can't speak for my great grandfather, but I have a feeling that he would say he would do it all again, so as to ensure that his family was provided for.
My great grandfather was loving, kind, and hilarious. He loved to tease, but it was always in good fun. He used to make me laugh with his Donald Duck impressions. He loved his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren immensely, as well as each of his two wives, and his stepchildren and their families.
Albert was extremely strong and hard working. He and his first wife, Mildred, worked at the Cotton Mill (American Thread Co.) in Tallapoosa. His job was to pull the threads down and tie knots as fast as he could. This proved to be quite a workout on the arms, and as a result, he was extremely strong. I remember that he had this strength even as an elderly man after he had retired.
Ab was known for wearing his cap cocked to one side and for his constant whistling, everywhere he went. He was also known for his old truck, which he sped around in everywhere he went. You did not get in his way! And if you were behind him, he would quickly leave you in the dust - even in his elderly years, he was a "speed demon" on the road.
Sadly, I remember him suffering from Alzheimer's at the very end of his life, and it was colon cancer that took take his life in 1990, just a couple of weeks before Christmas.
He is dearly loved and missed.
Bio by Arabelle
Gravesite Details
Interred 15 Dec 1990
Family Members
Siblings
Half Siblings
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