Gloria Elizabeth (Bell) Durante

Gloria was born on Sept 6, 1934, in McDowell County, West Virginia to Jahue and Jessie Durante. She attended Gary District Schools, Graduating from Gary Negro High School in 1952. She then moved to Columbus to attend The Ohio State University School of Nursing. While in Columbus, she met Charles W. Bell Sr. (of Bell's TV and Radio) at Shiloh Baptist Church. They started a family in 1957, with the birth of their first child, Pamela and later on in 1958 and 1960, with the birth of two sons, Charles and Jeffery they completed their family. When her children were grown, Gloria returned to The Ohio State University and received her degree in Criminology and Social Sciences in June 1980. She worked at The Ohio Civil Rights Commission for a number of years before starting her flower-catering business in the Short North and University District, which expanded to The Brewery and Lincoln Districts, where as she was affectionately known as The Flower Lady until her retirement in 2005. She was preceded in death by Charles Bell Sr.; her beloved mother, Jessie; beloved son, Charles; beloved granddaughter, Brandi Bell; beloved brothers, Ronald, Robert and John “Buddy”; beloved sister, Shirley and beloved aunt, Zelma. Gloria is survived by her sister, Anita Hairston; her children, Pamela and Jeffery Bell; adopted daughter, Niama Turkson and a host of friends, nephews, nieces and cousins, grandchildren, Jeffrey Bell II, Breyona Mackey, Brechel Mackey, Brittni Bell, Omari Bell, Breia Bell; great grandchildren, Amira-Love Mackey, Marcelleus Bell and the grandchildren’s mother, Juli Mackey.