James Etta "Jamie" Bell

James Etta Bell was born to Margie Victorian and Maurice Bell on August 14, 1957 in Houston, Texas.

On March 3, 2025, she entered her eternal resting place with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. She had just returned from Sanger, California, where she attended the Mighty Women of God Retreat, which was filled with PRAYERS, PRAISE, and PEACE! James Etta was so happy!

As her only child, her mother affectionately called her "Mommie Girl," and everyone knew her as the same. She was loved by many. In her early childhood, she lived with her Aunt Mary and Uncle Lawrence Glaude in Lake Charles, Louisiana who loved her unconditionally. She grew up in the Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church and Sacred Heart Catholic Church communities, where she was faithful, caring, and prayerful.

Jamie graduated from Washington High School in 1975, where she was a school band member and played the clarinet. She later attended McNeese State University.

In 1977, Jamie went on vacation to San Francisco, California, and decided to live there with her Aunt Rita and Uncle Simon Taylor. Moving to California gave her mother a place to travel. Jamie came home often to visit her mother for holidays and family gatherings. She loved California, traveled a lot, made new friends, and kept her faith in God with the gift of service and giving. In California she was known to all as Ms. Bell.

Jamie cared for her mother with love and devotion, ensuring all her needs were always met. Her mother passed away after a lengthy illness in August 2014, and Jamie was devastated. But the love of her family kept her strong and focused. In 2015, when her mother passed, she came home after retiring from Genentech, Inc., in San Francisco, California. Her family was glad to have her close again, and now she could also visit the Bell family in Texas City, Texas more often. Jamie enjoyed festive decorating at her home for every holiday. She loved cooking and collecting family pictures and enjoyed seafood anytime with a fine glass of wine. She was excited to attend her 40th Class Reunion with classmates of 1975. Jamie made new friends in Lake Charles, Louisiana but never forgot and stayed connected with her dear, longtime friends in California.

Upon returning to Lake Charles, she was a devoted member of Our Lady Queen of Heaven Catholic Church. Jamie worked for Medical Transportation Management until her passing.

Whether it was James Etta, Mommie Girl, Jamie, or Ms. Bell, she will always be remembered as a caring, quiet, sweet person with a baby girl smile. People did not understand her name, but she was named after the famous singer-songwriter Etta James.

Jamie's memory will forever be etched in the hearts of her bonus, caring and much-loved sister, Lena Edwards of Lake Charles, Louisiana, and her bonus forever, RIDE OR DIE much-loved brother, Mano LaSalle also of Lake Charles, Louisiana. Also left to cherish her memories are two Aunts, Gracie Victorian of Lake Charles, Louisiana and Daisey Montgomery of Texas City, Texas, one Uncle, J.C. Bell of Houston, Texas, her godfather, Edward Bushnell of Lake Charles, Louisiana, her godson, Kenny Taylor of San Francisco, California, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and other relatives.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Margie Victorian Green and Maurice Bell, her maternal grandparents, Evelina and Arthur Victorian, Sr., and several aunts and uncles.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 AM on Saturday, March 15, 2025 in Our Lady Queen of Heaven Catholic Church, 3939 Lake St., with Msgr. Daniel Torres serving as Celebrant. Burial will follow in Sacred Heart Cemetery under the direction of Johnson Funeral Home of Lake Charles. Visitation will be in the funeral home chapel on Saturday from 9:00 AM until leaving in procession to the church, with a rosary being recited at 10:00 AM.