Eva Brown Bell

Eva Irene Brown Bell, age 97, was born on March 20, 1927 to the late Louis Brown and Molly Taylor Brown. She is the last child to pass away from that union. She entered into eternal rest on January 9, 2025, at her home. Eva was born and raised in Charles City County and attended school there. She joined Little Elam Baptist Church at an early age and attended faithfully until her health began to decline. She worked at St. Philip Hospital in the Food Services Department for about 7 years. St. Philip Hospital was MCV’s segregated hospital and served the Black patient community in Richmond and surrounding counties. It was in operation from 1920 to 1965. Eva also worked at M&B Headwear in Richmond, VA for over 25 years until her retirement. She made many friends at M&B and became a “Mother Figure” to several of the young ladies who worked there. Some of them have kept in touch with her over the past and recent years, even as recent as December 2024. Eva enjoyed planting flowers in her yard and growing vegetables in the garden. She also enjoyed sewing, shing and listening to gospel music. Most of all, she loved spending time with her husband (whom she lovingly called “Sug”), her children, grandchildren and other family members. Eva was also a very good cook. She was constantly praised for her fried chicken and potato salad. She was also known for baking her delicious “from scratch” pound cake. It was all cooked with LOVE. In addition to her parents, Eva was preceded in death by her loving husband, Rufus Bell, Sr.; son, Benjamin Bell; daughter, Edith Greene; granddaughter, Kelly Miles; grandson, Michael Bell; great-grandson, Kennedy Greene; Daughter-in-law, Alfreda Bell; and Son-in-law, Glenn Bowman, Sr.; four sisters, Lash Cotman, Hazel Jones, Julia Hampton and Frances Cotman. Eva leaves to cherish her precious memories, her six children; Annie Bowman, Lash Bell, Rufus Bell, Jr., Eva Bell Pugh (Kevin), Etta Charity (Roscoe, Sr.) and Gail Thompson (Hugo); Son-in-law, Dwight Greene, Sr. She also leaves her nine grandchildren; Glenn Bowman, Jr. (Gayle), Lorna Braxton (Kevin), Victor Miles, Lynn Greene-Spruel, Dwight Greene, Jr. (Melinda), Courtney Bell, Roscoe Charity, Jr. (Ashlei), Nelson Charity, Sr., and Jermaine Miles (Luketia); several great-grandchildren; great-great-grandchildren; and a countless host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Special thanks to devoted cousins, Clara Harris, and Florence Silver; devoted nieces, Molly Charity, and Carrie Williams; and her long-time neighbors who are “like daughters”, Joyce Bradby and Nora Hampton. ere are many others who have shown so much love to Eva. The names are too numerous to list--Love and thanks to all of you. A funeral service will be held 1PM Friday, January 17, 2025, at Little Elam Baptist Church, Charles City, VA. A viewing will be held from 6PM-8PM Thursday, January 16, 2025, at Vincent Funeral Home, Providence Forge, VA.

Eva Brown Bell

March 20, 1927 - January 9, 2025