Frechetter O. Bell

Frechetter Odelia Bell, was born on September 11, 1937, in Roxboro, North Carolina, daughter of the late David and Odessa Cunningham. After a brief illness, she quietly entered eternal rest on Wednesday, December 3, 2003.Frechetter accepted Christ at an early age joining Hyco Zion Church with her family in Roxboro, North Carolina. Frechetter received her education in the Person County School System in Roxboro, North Carolina and Cortez Peters Business School in Washington, DC, before moving with her family to Baltimore, Maryland. She later graduated from Coppin State College with a Bachelor of Science Degree followed by the completion of the Master’s Program in Education at Towson State University.She was joined in Holy Matrimony to the late Edward James Bell in 1968.Upon graduation from Coppin State College, Frechetter began a thirty-year career teaching in the Baltimore City Public School System on February 1, 1962. After teaching at several elementary schools she was recognized for outstanding performance and appointed to the position of Senior Teacher, a supervisory position at Mt. Royal Elementary/Middle School. She was later appointed assistant principal at Fort Worthington Elementary School, a position she held until her retirement on July 1, 1992. Frechetter’s educational and administrative performance was highly regarded by her colleagues. She worked tirelessly in completing all assigned and assumed tasks at the highest possible level.Following her retirement, Frechetter returned to the Baltimore City Public School System on a part-time basis as Staff Associate in the office of Suspension Services. She overextended herself in tying to arrange the best possible reassignment for students returning to school following suspension. Her co-workers in this office praised her for the thorough job she completed in that office.Frechetter became a longtime Lutheran serving at Zion Lutheran Church and All Saints Lutheran Church. Her love for children was most evident in her church involvement. She used her excellent skills as an educator to organize fun and learning about the bible and growing in the Christian faith for children in Sunday school, Vacation Bible School and Church Summer Camp. She organized the Summer Camp Program at Zion Lutheran Church and continued the same responsibility at All Saints Lutheran Church.She brought people together who could work with the children and help the church with its outreach to the community. When she no longer had the time to teach and help direct Sunday school or camp, she supported the children’s ministry with financial gifts, materials and helping to setup learning activities.Frechetter and her late husband Ed, donated a van to the church to help transport groups of children and members needing a ride. Frechetter was a willing church member. She served in the Congregation Council at Both Zion and All Saints. She freely gave of her time and finances. She sought ways others could help the church by bringing in new ideas and programs.Members of All Saints would look forward to the refreshments that Frechetter’s Coffee Hour Family” would server. If she knew that you liked something she had, she’d give you a taste of it before church service and the rest of it to take home later.The Bells made a lovely couple that the All Saints family will sorely miss.Having close ties and deep sentiment for her native Roxboro, North Carolina, Frechetter was the founder of the Roxboro Annual Re-Union Weekend Celebration held in Baltimore, Maryland. The first reunion was held in October, 1990 for several years she planned the fall event for former Roxboro residents to get together and recall their roots. Hundreds of East Coast Alumni attended each year. The proceeds from these affairs were used to provide college scholarships to graduating seniors from Person County High School. As the Scholarship Committee Chairperson, she coordinated this event with the Guidance Counselor at Person County High School, Mrs. Helen Johnson who selected the deserving scholarship recipients.Frechetter had a zest for life and lived people. Her home was always filled with fun and laughter as her family and many friends dropped in for visits.Frechetters’s greatest pride and joy was her family, a very closely-knit unit. Of special delight were her nieces and nephew, Dee Dee, Dawn and Chico and great-nephews and niece, Brandon, Sterling and Savawn. The family spent countless hour’s fellowshipping and sharing experiences. She leaves to cherish her memory: her brother, Sterling Cunningham; two sisters, Mamie Cunningham and Lois Conaway; sisters-in-law, Wynola Cunningham and Fannie Harvey(Warren); brothers-in-law, Cornell Conaway and Thomas Bell; seven aunts, Frostina McGee, Cozella Stewart, Hassie Coles, Maline Leake, Montena DeSales, Alice Cunningham and Cora Crawley; five uncles, Curtis Crawley, Will Stewart, Auley Leake, Sterling Cunningham, Lance DeSales and Arvis Taylor, and a host of other relatives and friends.

Tributes

Frechetter O. Bell

September 11, 1937 - December 3, 2003