Antoinette “Toni” Jones Bell entered this world on August 19, 1951, the third child of five children born to the late Joseph and Evelyn Smith Jones. She entered her heavenly reward in the early morning hours of March 5, 2020, at Bath Manor Special Care Center.

Toni was born and raised in Akron Ohio and was proud to have spent her entire life on the “Eastside.” Educated at Robinson Elementary, and Goodyear Jr. High, she graduated from East High School in 1970. Always striving to better her circumstances, Toni developed an entrepreneurial spirit as a young woman and spent several years of her early life self-employed. In 1973, she answered the call to salvation at the Robert Street Church of God, now Arlington Church of God, under the leadership of Dr. Ronald J. Fowler. She was joined in matrimony to Robert David Bell in 1976. The couple produced two sons. The oldest boy, Robert, was born on her birthday and she never hesitated to let people know of that unique blessing.

Antoinette had a deep-seated desire to reach higher heights. Forever seeking out sound guidance and leadership, Toni had far too many mentoring relationships to list them all without risk of omitting the name of someone she held dear. However, it was those relationships that helped provide the encouragement and direction for her to enroll at The University of Akron where she earned a B.A. in Education in 1983. Her personal success was highlighted when she received the “BootStrap” award after a nomination from then-Deputy Mayor Dorothy O. Jackson.

Yet personal success was not enough for the ever-energetic, fun-loving, never met a stranger, Toni Bell. She never forgot her own humble beginnings and was divinely called to the role of teacher in the Akron Public Schools’ G.E.D. program. Here she exercised her God-given talent of “helps” to support and encourage young and old students to earn a high school equivalency, throwing off the shackles of social, racial, educational and financial discrimination.

A faithful member of her beloved church for over 47 years, she served in the Chancel Choir, as a junior church worker, part-time employee of Irma Jones Pre-School, Sunday School worker, Vacation Bible School Teacher, Youth Convention chaperone, finance committee, and kitchen worker. Her love of flowers and gardening made her the unofficial beautification leader for many years where she would be seen weeding flowers inside and outside of the church.

She  was preceded in death by her loving parents, Joseph and Evelyn Jones, siblings JoAnne Jackson and Anthony Jones.

She leaves to mourn her passing, sons Robert (Joan) Bell; Marcell Bell of Akron, grandsons Robert David and Brandon J. Bell; Marshay and Cortez Bell of Texas; brother Bernard Jones, of Florida; sister Bernadine Jones of California; Sisters-in love Anna Williams and Levonia Brooks of Akron, Ohio, Wilma Bell and Dessie (Robert) Thomas of Cuba Alabama, along with a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, sister friends, other mothers, prayer partners, adopted sons, daughters, and grandchildren!

Antoinette Bell passed away March 5, 2020. Announcements later.