Graveside services for Robert Joe Bell of Inverness will be held at 10:00 am, Friday, August 24, 2018 at Hickory Grove Cemetery in Inverness. Mr. Bell passed away peacefully Wednesday, August 22, 2018 at his home.

Joe was born October 6, 1955 in Memphis, Tennessee to James Stanley "Red" Bell and Fannie Brooks Wallace Bell. He attended school at Central Delta Academy in Inverness and ran track during the 1971-1972 school year. Joe attended Delta State University where he earned his bachelor's degree. He attended The University of Manitoba in Winnipeg, Canada before moving back to Hattiesburg and earning his master's degree in philosophy from the University of Southern Mississippi. Joe was a salvationist and was a member of the Salvation Army. He was very active in his faith, teaching Sunday school, inviting people to church, and working for Christ. Joe visited nursing homes every Thursday and read scripture to the patients and planted flowers for them. He was an avid gardener who loved cats and adored his family. Joe was a falconer and trained red tail hawks, he loved training birds. Joe was a United States Air Force veteran. He worked in retail for many years at Office Depot in Greenville.

Joe was preceded in death by his parents, Red Bell and Fannie Bell.

He is survived by two sisters, Peggy B. Tedford of Waveland, and Charlotte Sibley of Inverness; nephew, Mike Sibley of Waxhaw, North Carolina; and two nieces, Brooks Sibley of Matthews, North Carolina, and Becky Tedford Partington of Cumberland, Rhode Island.

Burton Funeral Home of Indianola has been entrusted with arrangements.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to The Salvation Army, 502 N.  Broadway, Greenville, MS 38701.

Online condolences may be shared with the family by visiting www.burtonfuneralhome.net