Holcombe Marion Bell, Jr.

Holcombe Marion Bell, Jr., 81, of Harleyville, widower of LaVonne Priddy Bell, entered into eternal rest on November 4, 2022, after a brief illness.

A memorial service will be held at Bethel United Methodist Church on Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022, at 3:00 with the Rev. Paul Lawton officiating and Bryant Funeral Home directing. Visitation will be in the church recreation hall at 1:00.

Born on September 23, 1941, in Harleyville, SC, Holcombe was the son of the late Holcombe “Marion” Bell, Sr., and Mamie Mims Bell. He was a life-long member of Bethel United Methodist Church and a 1959 graduate of Harleyville Ridgeville High School. He attended Clemson University. He retired from Giant Cement Company as a plant foreman and served his community as Dorchester County Magistrate for a number of years. He was a member of the Harleyville Jaycees and Ruritan Club. Holcombe was an avid Clemson fan who went to “God’s country” as often as he could. He spent countless years assisting with and watching sports at both Mims Academy and Dorchester Academy. He was credited with starting the female “trainers” club for these schools. At Mims Academy, they were known as “Holcombe’s Angels.” For years, he coached men’s softball teams across the low country. A devoted outdoorsman, he was the owner of Alibi Hunting Club. Holcombe spent his years after retirement managing his timber farm and raising cattle. In his spare time, he read at least five books a week, assisted his friends with farming, attended local sporting events, and cooked chicken perlo rice and red rice for anyone who needed it. He also loved to entertain family and friends with his wonderful Southern cooking, especially with fish fries at “the pond.”

Holcombe was predeceased by his wife of fifty-eight years; his daughter Bobbie Lorraine Bell; his brothers James A. Bell, Sr., and Joseph M. Bell; his sister Laura Jane Bell; and his nephew James A. Bell, Jr.

Surviving are his daughter, Lynne’ Bell (Jeff) Reeves of Elloree; his son, Rodney R. (Cheryl Ringley) Bell of Eutawville; his granddaughters, Danielle Watson (Brian) McCall of North Charleston and Ashleigh Lauraine Watson of Summerville; his grandsons, Hunter Christian Watson of Summerville, Logan Bryant (Morgan Kemmerlin) Bell of Harleyville, and Dawson Marion Bell of Eutawville; his great-grandsons, Caleb Austin McCall of North Charleston and Caulder Bryant Bell of Harleyville; sisters-in-law Rose Pendarvis Bell of St. George and Becky Priddy (Robert) Miller of Jacksonville, FL; brothers-in-law Ron (Kathy) Priddy of Fairfax, VA and Russell (Liesa) Priddy of Immokalee, FL; and many cousins, nieces, and nephews. Holcombe also leaves behind several treasured friends (Larry Bowers, Brian Collins, Danny Westbury, and Andy Bell), special companion (Barbara Bair Villeponteaux), and devoted employees Edward Hicks, Val James, and Margaret Ann Carn.

In lieu of flowers the family suggests memorials be made to Bethel United Methodist Church, 1163 Beidler Forest Rd., Dorchester, SC 29437.

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