Claude Lee Bell

Pastor, Superintendent Claude Bell - Joylight Church of God In Christ, Inc.

Claude Bell, Pastor of Joylight Church of God in Christ for 38 years, was born May 13, 1944, in Louise, Mississippi, to parents Annie and Edmond Bell who relocated the family to Chicago, Illinois when he was three months old.  Claude had seven brothers and sisters. 

He attended Willard Elementary, Hess Jr High School, and Farragut High School, where he graduated with Honors in 1962. Claude went on to further his education at the YMCA Jr. College, where he received an Associate's Degree, the University of Illinois, and the University of New Mexico where he completed a Bachelors of Accounting and Business Administration.  

While attending the YMCA Jr. College, Supt. Claude Bell worked as an assistant department manager in a Chicago downtown department store. He continued his career at TVI as a Testing Director, member of the advisory board and student body president. He then went on to start his career with American Gypsum/Centex where he worked for 34 years, holding the following positions: Accounting Supervisor, IT Supervisor, Assistant Comptroller, Treasurer of Centex American, and Accounting Manager.  

In 1965 Claude was drafted into the US Army, but decided to join the US Air Force where his first assignment was at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas.  He was later assigned to a Tech School in Amarillo, Texas, then assigned to Kirtland Air Force Base where he served from 1965-1968. He served overseas in the Republic of China from 1968-1969 at the CCK Air Force Base.  While serving in the US Air Force, he always placed in the top two in all areas of training, gaining several awards for his hard work and dedication (Airman of the Month, Airman of the Quarter and the Good Conduct Award).  Claude, a US Air Force Veteran, ended his service to his country in March of 1969. 

Soon after his retirement from the service, Claude married Mary Bell on March 31, 1969. They have two sons, Patrick and Daryl Bell, and they shared 51 beautiful years together.

Claude served the administration of former Albuquerque Mayor Louis Saavedra as a member of the city planning committee, member of the NAACP, two time Vice President of the Albuquerque Ministers Alliance and Secretary of the Cox Estates Housing Complex. 

After moving to Albuquerque, NM, Claude joined the First Church of God In Christ in 1966, under the late Dr. E.C. Cox, where all his major ministry training occurred. Some of the positions he held were; deacon, church secretary, treasurer, chairman of the deacon board, Sunday school superintendent, Young People Willing Worker teacher, bible band teacher, chair and president of the anniversary committee, choir president, and assistant pastor.  In 1971, He accepted his call to ministry and received his minister’s license in 1972, signed by the late Dr. EC Cox and Bishop S.V. Brooks.  Four years later, in February of 1976, he was ordained an elder and became pastor of the Joylight Church of God in Christ in May of 1982. Other ministry assignments are as follows; 1996- Superintendent of the Northern (Higher Ground) District (appointed by late Bishop Leroy Anderson and re-appointed in 2013 under Bishop J.L. Jones), appointed in 2004 as Second Administrative Assistant to the late Bishop W.C. Green, in 2013 Bishop J.L. Jones appointed him to the following leadership roles; Senior Administrative Assistant, Chairman of District Superintendents, Jurisdictional Budget Committee Chair, Jurisdictional Assembly Chair,  Chair of Finance Department, and appointed in 2016 as the Southern District Overseer.  

Claude is preceded in death by his father and mother Edmond and Anne Bell, sisters Ora Mae Bell-Banks, Priscilla Bell-Alexander, brothers Leon, Otis, Arthur, Edmond Jr. and Robert Bell. He is survived by his wife Mary P. Bell, sons and daughter-in-laws Patrick and Tewana, Darly and Yvette, grandchildren Mercedes, Terrence (Rachael), Jeremiah, and Aja.

He had a unique love for family, the church, fishing, cooking, and travel.

A funeral service will be held on Friday, December 4 at the Metro Church of God In Christ on 4800 Lomas Blvd., Albuquerque, New Mexico. 87110 from 11am to 12:30pm. Attendance is invitation only due to the state COVID-19 restrictions. Condolences may be sent to 7601 Wyoming Blvd. NE, Albuquerque, NM 87109 (Claude Bell). Services directed by Daniels Funeral Home.