Gwendolyn Celeste Bell

Gwendolyn Celeste Bell. 68, passed peacefully into the arms of her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Wednesday, October 30, 2024 at the Hospice Home.

 It would be hard to find a more caring and loving person than Celeste. She always had a big smile for everyone she met – and she never met a stranger. Celeste loved her family and would always ask about each family member by name during every visit and every phone call.

 Celeste was a life-long fan of Mickey Mouse. Over the years, she collected anything and everything Mickey – from books to pajamas to watches to sweatshirts to stuffed versions of her cherished mouse. Nothing made her face light up more than when someone gave her anything – large or small – that featured Mickey Mouse and his pals.

 She was also an avid reader of magazines, especially those featuring the fashion industry. Celeste would spend hours poring over every story and every photo on every page.

 Beyond her family and friends, dogs were what brought Celeste the most joy. She had a particular fondness for St. Bernards, which was the breed loved by her mother. Celeste adored every dog her mom ever had and kept a large plush St. Bernard – who she named Beethoven – with her to love on, when a real one wasn’t nearby.

 Celeste always kept busy with family events, looking forward to celebrating every holiday and birthday year after year. She was also involved in activities at the Ralph Scott Lifeservices group home and Starpoint, where she was surrounded by a loving community of peers and staff members. When she was younger, Celeste enjoyed participating in the Special Olympics and was so proud of the medals she won over the years.

 The family would like to express their deepest appreciation to those who enriched Celeste’s life over the decades. The kindness, generosity and support you provided opened up an entire world of possibilities for Celeste and enabled her to live a wonderful and fulfilling life. Special thanks to Cynthia, who was her one-on-one support person at the Ralph Scott Lifeservices group home and the other wonderful staff members at the home. The family would also like to send a special thanks to the “angel” nurses and staff at the Hospice Home, who were so compassionate and loving to Celeste and to our family.

 Celeste is survived by her beloved aunts and uncles, Linda Simpson Lashley, Patsy Simpson Laws and husband Tony, and Jay Alphin; her cousins, Lee Laws, Michele Lashley, Rick Lashley and wife Katie, Chad Laws and wife Carly, Summer Lashley and Lucas Lashley-Zimmerman. She was preceded in death by her mother, Louise Simpson Gross; father, David Worth Bell; maternal grandparents, Jack and Lola Simpson; paternal grandparents, Abe and Hermie Bell; her aunt, Jacqueline Simpson Alphin; uncle, Richard Lashley, Sr.; a great aunt, Beulah Simpson; and her cousin, Terry Lane Alphin.

 The funeral service to celebrate the life of Celeste will be held at 11:30am Saturday, November 2, 2024 at Lowe Funeral Home Chapel by Rev. Reid Dickens with the burial to follow at Shiloh Community Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 10:30am to 11:15am Saturday prior to the service.

 In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to AuthoraCare, 914 Chapel Hill Road, Burlington, NC 27215 or to the charity of one’s choice. 

 You may send condolences and watch the service at www.lowefuneralhome.com.