Bonnie Bell

Bonnie Bell touched so many lives during her lifetime and many are blessed to call Bonnie “Friend”. Bonnie Lynn Davis was born April 7, 1940 in Atlanta, Ga. She was the only child of James and Etta Davis. She moved to Nashville, TN when she was 3 years old. Bonnie grew up on Woodmont Blvd. and went to Stokes School and Hillsboro High School where she played basketball, ran track and cheered. She was active in student government and was elected Student Body Secretary her senior year. Bonnie was voted Prom Queen, and was selected as “Best All Round” and “Most Popular” by her peers! Most of Bonnie’s friends would agree that she was blessed and lived a very charmed life! After high school, Bonnie went to Vanderbilt, where she pledged Tri-Delt and was President of her Pledge Class. She was elected to Student Senate and was very active in intramural sports. Bonnie was a cheerleader for the Commodores and was nominated for “Miss VU”. Bonnie married her high school sweetheart, Mack Rolfe and lived briefly in Texas and Florida. They had three sons, including John Rolfe and twins Jim and Dick Rolfe. They moved back to Nashville, where Bonnie became very active in The Panhellenic Council representing the Tri-Delt's. She was also the co-chair of publicity when The Eve of Janus was first launched. Shortly after their return to Nashville, Bonnie found herself a single mom of three boys under the age of four. She got her first job at the First American National Bank in The Business Development Department. She then worked for Fridrich and Hooper (now Fridrich and Clark). She handled the role of a single mom for 5 1/2 years. This all changed when she met the love of her life, Carney Rickman Bell through his sister, Linda Bell Sims. They were married, and started their life together in Springfield, TN. Bonnie inherited amazing twin girls-Karen and Sperry, age 14 and a wonderful boy, Bob age 11. Her boys were 10 and 8 at the time and needless to say their family was officially the “Brady Bunch”. The union was formed at a beautiful ceremony in the home of Dr. Tommy and Trish Frist, and her crew arrived in Springfield in June of 1974. Bonnie sold real estate for a while in Springfield, then founded a jewelry business called The Karat Patch with one of her good real estate friends. The business quickly grew, and evolved into a successful wholesale jewelry company named Seasons Jewelry. Bonnie’s partner retired in 1996 and her son Dick joined the business. Dick helped grow the business tremendously through Collegiate Licensed jewelry! In the meantime, all six children grew up ....graduated high school ......graduated from the University of Mississippi....got jobs....got married..... and gave Bonnie and Carney fourteen grandchildren! Life was good! Then in 1998, their world was rocked when Carney was thrown from a horse on their family farm.....life-flighted to Vanderbilt, and initially given a very slight chance of survival. The Lord listened to the family’ prayers and prayers from people all over the country, and Carney slowly recovered. Bonnie and Carney then moved to their farm, Bell Bottom Farms, as that was where Carney (“Pop”) loved to be. They later moved to Nashville, to be close to their growing family. Bonnie and the rest of the family were very blessed to have Carney for another 16 years after his accident. Bonnie worked hard for many years and loved every minute of it. She met many people throughout her life and loved spending time with friends both old and new. She traveled to many foreign countries and made friends all over the world. She loved to take relaxing mini vacations to unwind at the beach or in the mountains. Most of all, Bonnie enjoyed spending time with family and watching her grandchildren grow. It is comforting to know that she is with “Pop” now. She has dearly missed him for the last three and a half years. Heaven has received an amazing Angel. She will be missed. Bonnie is survived by her children, John (Vanessa) Rolfe of Nashville, Jim (Mary K.) Rolfe of Dallas, TX, Dick (Michelle) Rolfe of Franklin, TN, Karen (Bruce) Bell Moore of Nashville, Sperry (Heber) Bell Simmons of Nashville and Bob (Mary Lee) Bell of Springfield, TN; grandchildren, Tyler Moore, Margaret Anne Moore, Mitchell Moore, Blake Stadler, Briley Bell, Rickman Bell Dutton, Analeese Bell, Becca Rolfe, Jenna Rolfe, Davis Rolfe, Quinn Rolfe, Campbell Rolfe, Nick Rolfe and Richard Rolfe; and great-grandchild, Henry Jack Dutton. Visitation will be held at the Austin & Bell Funeral Home in Springfield on Wednesday, July 13, 2016 from 2-8pm and at the Springfield First United Methodist Church on Thursday, July 14, 2016 from 12 Noon until the hour of service at 1pm. Private burial will follow with Tyler Moore, Mitchell Moore, Davis Rolfe, Nick Rolfe, Richard Rolfe and Bob Bell serving as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers are Dr. Tommy Frist, Jr., Steve Riven, Justice Frank Drowota, Herb Kneeland, Bubba Woodfin, Bob Hardison, Bruce Moore, Heber Simmons, III, Michael Dutton, Jim Stadler, Jr., John Barker, Allen Bryan, Toney Catignani, Woody Sims, Dave Malone, David Jones and Lee Barfield. The family requests donations be made to the Springfield First United Methodist Church, to Project Redesign or to Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital. All donations may be sent in c/o Austin & Bell. Austin & Bell Funeral Home in Springfield is in charge of these arrangements. AUSTIN & BELL FUNERAL HOME- 509 WALNUT STREET, SPRINGFIELD, TN (615) 384-1000

Bonnie Bell

April 7, 1940 - July 9, 2016