Susan Margaret (McDougald) Bell

Susan was born in Washington, D.C., the daughter of Ardis Fuller McDougald and Hazel Margaret Batzler. She died in her Alexandria home from breast cancer after many months in the care of her family, friends and a dedicated team of home health care providers.

Susan is survived by her brother, John McDougald; three children: Karen Margaret Bell, Jeffrey Allyn Bell and Stephen Ardis Bell; and her seven grandchildren: Sydney Zizos Bell, Andrew Zizos Bell, Jackson Michael Bell, Madyn Marie Bell, Gianna Genevieve Foley, Peyton Gail Foley, and Michael Stephen Bell.  She loved her name “Amma” as she was called by her grandchildren.

Susan graduated from Shaker Heights High School in 1959. She earned a BA in English (with honors) from the College of Wooster (OH); an MA in Religious Education from the Chicago Theological Seminary and an MA in Social Work from Catholic University.

In 1963, Susan married her former husband Richard Joseph Bell.  They remained dedicated parents, grandparents and lifelong friends.

In the mid-1960s, Susan was involved in the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) Chicago Freedom Movement and marched in Chicago. Susan attended seminary with Jesse Jackson.  They were the only two married students in their class so they often spent time together.  She worked with him on Operation Breadbasket, a campaign that boycotted white-owned and white-operated businesses that refused to employ African Americans or to buy products sold by African American-owned businesses.

In the late 1960s, Susan lived in San Clemente, CA while her husband, Richard, served in the US Marine Corps during the Vietnam War.   There she started the Youth Program at St. Andrews By The Sea Methodist Church, a new church pastored by Rev. Maxi D. Dunham. Rev. Dunham remembers her fondly, and with respect, for how she gathered the youth in a successful program during a very turbulent time.  They called themselves The Magnificent Seven and had much fun with Susan in a program that offered interesting experiences, such as drag races and ice skating, and engaged them in active discussions about issues of the day, including race relations and social justice as well as more controversial (at the time) subjects such as birth control and drug use.  No topic was off limits with Susan and parents of the youth came to appreciate that… eventually.  She was inquisitive and taught the youth in her program to always ask questions and not to be afraid of boisterous discussions.

In the early 1970s, Susan and Richard moved to northern Virginia. Susan initially stayed home with the children and later practiced as a licensed therapist.  She was active in several churches during her time in the metro DC area, including Beverley Hills Community United Methodist Church (Alexandria), Church of the Resurrection (Alexandria), Church of the Savior (Washington DC) and her current church, Ravensworth Baptist Church (Annandale, VA). Recently, at Ravensworth, she was active in a group she helped start called Aging with Spirit.

Susan was a member of Friends of Sabeel North America (FOS-NA), a Palestinian rights group, and traveled several times to Israel as part of her work with this group. Her travels abroad also included trips to England/Scotland, the former Soviet Union and to Eastern Europe after the Iron Curtain came down with her lifelong friend, Carol Perkins.

Susan loved Sunset Beach in North Carolina. She said the sand dollars she found there symbolized God's presence in creation. She also loved the avocet, a wading bird found in salt marshes, whose name she used as an email address. 

Susan was a gifted water-color artist who studied with the late Ted Betts. She loved to play tennis and was an avid reader who never stopped learning, questioning, and making personal projects of some of the most difficult subjects.

We were all blessed by knowing Susan. She made our worlds better places by loving and lifting each of us. Her efforts to improve the lives of people facing injustice with compassion and purpose set an example as a faithful Christian.  We will love and miss her always.  She will continue on in our hearts while she now rests with our Father in Heaven after a job well done.

A viewing will take place from 5 – 7 p.m. on Friday, February 10th, 2023 at the Everly-Wheatley Funeral Home in Alexandria, VA. On Saturday, February 11th, a service will be held at Ravensworth Baptist Church in Annandale, VA at 3 p.m., followed by a Celebration of Life from 5 – 7 p.m. at Clyde’s at Mark Center in Alexandria, VA.  Arrangements are being handled by Everly-Wheatley Funeral Home in Alexandria, VA.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Susan’s honor via a GoFundMe page established to provide on-going support to two Mexican children that Susan has sponsored through ChildFund since the boys were very young. Donations can be made at: https://www.gofundme.com/f/donate-in-memory-of-susan-bell

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