My beautiful daughter, Melissa Anne Bell lost her battle with colon cancer on Wednesday August 26, 2020. Due to Covid restrictions there was no service at that time.
On Sunday, July 25, 2021 (what would have been her 51st birthday) we invite family and friends to join us for a Celebration of Life service at Wilmington Funeral and Cremation Chapel. The service will be at 2:00 pm and immediately followed by visitation and a reception.
Melissa was born in Sea Level, North Carolina on July 25, 1970, to Jerry Gray Bell and her mother Peggy Holt Needham. She was preceded in death by her stepfather, Dr. Tom Needham. Melissa graduated from the Patterson School in Lenoir, NC and Bauder Fashion College in Atlanta, Ga. She was a former employee and office manager at Needham Animal Hospital and Administrator for the North Carolina Academy of Small Animal Medicine. Animal rescue was her passion and she hand raised many orphaned birds, squirrels, and other creatures.
Surviving in addition to her father and mother are her sons Camden Ray Autry and Torren Lee Autry; brothers Jerry G. Bell, Jr; Tom Needham, Jr.; and Elliott Nidam-Orvieto; sister Jenny N. Luxton, numerous cousins, aunts, uncles, nieces, and nephews. Also surviving is former husband Reggie Autry.
Please share memories and condolences to the family by clicking the “condolence Tab” below and also view the “VIDEO TRIBUTE”.
Wilmington Funeral & Cremation 1535 S. 41st Street Wilmington, NC 28403. 910.791.9099
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