Geraldine Bell

Geraldine “Tootsie” Hatfield Bell, 83, of Blountville, TN, went to be with the Lord on October 7th, 2025, at her home surrounded by loved ones, following roughly a 27-year battle with metastatic breast and bone cancer.

She was born April 4th, 1942, in Sneedville, TN, where she attended Vardy Community School and Hancock County High School as the Class of 1960. She was taught to work and work hard. She met her now husband, Gene, in 1960 and moved straight to Baltimore, MD. There she met her lifelong friend, Edna Barnard, whom she kept a long-distance traveling friendship with until the end. After roughly four years in Baltimore, she settled in Blountville, TN, where she became known as the “garage sale lady” due to her multiple yearly community sales. Tootsie was also known as the lady who kept everything in her life spotless and organized—from her yard to the windows—all while drinking coffee. She loved being outside taking care of business. Tootsie loved the Lord and told anyone around her about Him. As a member of Deck Valley Baptist Church in Bristol, she became very dedicated to the church and its missions. She thought she was saved as a young girl but then came to know Jesus fully in her 20s, kneeling in prayer in her kitchen.

The joy of her life was her two grandchildren, Blake and Whitney, whom she enjoyed taking to Dollywood and hosting for sleepovers.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Lonnie and Opal (Maxey) Hatfield; brother, Roy Hatfield of Tazewell; and sisters, Marie Hatfield of Sneedville and Mornia (Spoot) Ogle of Sevierville.

She is survived by her loving husband of 64 years, Eugene Bell; daughter and son-in-law, Lisa and Tony Roller; grandchildren, Blake (fiancé Alissa Cook) and Whitney Roller; brothers, Buster (Norma) Hatfield of Blountville and Kenneth and Milburn Hatfield of Kokomo, Indiana; as well as many loved nieces and nephews throughout Tennessee and Indiana.

A graveside service will occur at Gunnings Cemetery in Blountville on Friday, Oct. 10th, at 12 noon, and everyone is invited to come pay their respects. Condolences may be sent to her home in Blountville or her church. Pallbearers will be Leon, Tony, Blake, and Whitney Roller, Jeffrey Maxey, and Robby Hatfield.

The family wishes to thank the staff of Amedisys Hospice for the loving care they provided in the last six weeks, the Ballad Cancer Center staff and Dr. Shipstone for many years of great care and support. Additionally, they would like to show appreciation to her niece, Chloe Bell, for her kindness and help during the last month, and special nieces Darlene, Loretta, and Jennifer.

Trinity Memorial Centers Funeral Home (423-723-8177) is honored to serve the family, online condolences can be shared with the family on our website at www.trinitymemorialcenters.com.