Ricky Bell Obituary

On Wednesday, July 23. 2025 at 4:15 pm, our Heavenly Father called our beloved Ricky Jerome Bell to his Heavenly home. He peacefully closed his eyes and slipped away. Funeral Services will be held Saturday, August 9, 2025, 11:00 a.m. at St John Progressive Missionary Baptist Church, 2504 Chipco Street, Tampa, FL 33605. Interment will follow in Rest Haven Memorial Park Cemetery, 4615 E. Hanna Avenue, Tampa, FL 33610.

Ricky Jerome Bell was born on June 7, 1958, in New York, New York. He was the first of two children born to Jerome and Delores Bell. At the age of three years old, he, along with his mother and young baby sister, moved to Tampa, his mother's native home. Ricky was educated through the Hillsborough County School System. He received his high school diploma from Tampa Bay Technical High School, Class of 1976. The following Fall, he enrolled and attended Bethune-Cookman College in Daytona Beach, Florida. After completing his required courses, he graduated with the Class of 1980, receiving a BS Degree in Business Administration. Ricky furthered his education by attending Atlanta University in Atlanta, Georgia. He graduated with the Class of 1982, receiving an MS Degree in Public Administration. After completing his education, he joined the United States Navy, where he served a term of three years.

In 1987, after he returned to Tampa, he became employed with the City of Tampa, where he held the position of Personal Analysis Specialist. After serving in that position for many years, he was later classified as an Employee Relations Specialist, a position he held until he retired in 2010.

Ricky was an ardent sports lover. He travelled all over the United States attending the Super Bowl Games, Playoffs, and All-Pro Games. He was a diehard Bucs fan, a season ticket holder until his health began to fail him, and he was physically unable to attend the games. Ricky loved his family and community. To Ricky, family was everything. He strongly believed in education at every level and was always ready and willing to assist members of the family who were seeking higher education. In his neighborhood, he was affectionately called "The Mayor of Hannah Ave", because of his constant concerns about drivers speeding down Hannah Ave in their cars. He would place signs along that street, reminding drivers to "Slow Down" and that there were children and elderly people in that area. Ricky was especially devoted to his alma mater, BCCU, and its affiliates. He was very active in the Tampa Chapter of the BCCU Alumni Association. He attended the school's home football games, as well as other special events sponsored by the university. He would regularly make financial donations to the school's scholarship funds. Ricky was a man of his thoughts. He stood on his convictions. Regardless of the way others were going, he went his way. To the very end, he did it his way.

He leaves to cherish his precious memories: a loving and devoted mother, Delores "Dee" Williams; father, Jerome Bell, New York, NY.; sisters, Antionette "Toni" Shephard, and Adriane Y. Blanchett; brothers, Kenny Banks, Yakuba Allen, and Kenya Bell, New York, NY; grandfather, Sammie L. Pride, Valdosta, GA; uncles, Samuel Pride (Geneva), Leon Pride (Grace), Valdosta, GA; aunts, Ugertha B. Hodge (Melvin) Calif, Earnestine Buttone, Annie J. Birdsong, Elaine P. Barnett Betty J. Pride, Jackie Pride, Sandra R. Graham, and Marionette Marks (Michael) all of Valdosta, GA; a loving and devoted niece, Philicia D. Griffin (Michael); cousins, Lonnie Jackson Jr., Thedora Brown, Geoffery K. Brown, Qunie Rochelle Small, Rhonda Jackson, Rev Jay Jackson, Twanda Jackson, Kenneth Blanchett, Cedric Jackson, Vivian Jackson, Michael H. Brown, Pria Collins, Campion Collins, Timonthy Collins, Shayla Collins, Barbara A. Bell, Vicky Byron, Douglas Shiggs, and Remington Shephard (Linda); and other family members and friends too numerous to mention.

Visitation will be held on Friday, August 08, 2025, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Ray Williams Funeral Home, 301 N. Howard Avenue, Tampa, FL 33606.

Arrangements are entrusted to Ray Williams Funeral Home, Rhodes & Northern, Owners. www.raywilliamsfuneralhome.com

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