Caroline Rucker Bell

Mrs. Caroline Anne Rucker Bell, 85, of Elberton, Georgia and Sanibel Island, Florida,passed away Monday, June 16, 2014. Mrs. Bell was born in Gainesville, Georgia, on November 19, 1928, to the late William Albert Rucker and Caroline Augusta Green White Rucker. She was married to the late Harry Sanders Bell, Jr. Mrs. Bell attended Shorter College, the University of Georgia, and the University of Central Florida, where she completed her undergraduate studies, her Masters, and her Specialist in Reading.She taught for many years in Titusville, Brevard County, Florida, while her husband was an engineer for NASA. The family lived many places throughout the southeast, but always called Elberton home.After retirement, Mr. and Mrs. Bell divided their time between Elberton and their winter home on Sanibel Island. Caroline was always an active member of the Presbyterian Church and Presbyterian Women.After her husband’s death, she continued this service, and became the President of Presbyterian Women for the Northeast Georgia Presbytery.She and several friends traveled extensively through Europe and the United States with the continuing education department of Columbia Theological Seminary. Mrs. Bell is survived by her children: Caroline Melissa Boyd (Michael Wilkinson Boyd, deceased), Harry Sanders Bell, III (Deborah), Mary Helen Bell Cairns (Richard), Olive Elizabeth Bell and husband James Allen Orr; grandchildren: Jeffrey Albert Boyd (Jenny), Mary Caroline Boyd (Seth Caviness), Harry Sanders Bell, IV (Lauren), Spencer Hagan Bell (Emily), Derik Alton Bell, Dylan Anton Bell, Allen Emory Orr (Mary Ann), Albert James Orr, and Clark Samuel Orr; great-grandchildren: Jefferson Apollo Boyd, Luke Aiden Boyd, Henry Michael Caviness, and Lillian Charlene Bell; a sister-in-law: Ann Bell Ragan (Bill, deceased); and an aunt:Doris Rucker (Charles, deceased). A service to celebrate Caroline Anne Rucker Bell’s life was held on Saturday, June 21, 2014, at First Presbyterian Church, Elberton,Reverend Boone Clayton officiating. Interment followed at Elmhurst Cemetery, and memorials may be made to First Presbyterian Church of Elberton, 154 S. McIntosh St., Elberton, GA 30635,or Thornwell Home & School for Children, 302 S. Broad St., Clinton, SC 29325. Online condolences may be expressed to the family at www.hicksfuneral.com. Hicks Funeral Home of Elberton is caring for the family of Mrs. Caroline Anne Rucker Bell.