Thomaston City Councilman J. Ed Bell, 81, died at his residence early this morning. Shown here (center) with Mayor Hays Arnold, Council members Patsy Perdue and Wallace Rhodes and City Manager Patrick Comiskey. Bell represented District 3 and was serving his fourth term on the Thomaston City Council.
Mr. Bell retired from State Farm Insurance as an Agency Director in December 1995. He began his career with State Farm as an agent in Thomaston in August 1958. He is a graduate of Georgia State University, and he served in the United States Navy as an aviation ordnance man for 4 years during the Korean Conflict.
Mr. Bell served 7 years on the Thomaston City School Board, and he has served as a past president of the Lions Club. He was currently serving as a member of the Thomaston-Upson Arts Council, a deacon at First Baptist Church and on Congressman Lynn Westmoreland's Small Business Committee. In 2009, Mr. Bell was awarded the Thomaston-Upson Chamber of Commerce's Lifetime Achievement Award. He is survived by his wife Mrs. Patricia Bell, two daughters, one son, and six grandchildren.
Thomaston Mayor Hays Arnold said of Bell, “We have lost a true leader and a genuine public servant that gave tremendously to the community and to the state of Georgia, his loss creates a huge void that will be difficult to fill, he will be missed greatly.”
County Commission Chairman Maurice Raines issued the following statement on behalf of the commission;
It is with heavy hearts that the Board of Commissioners has learned of the passing of a great man, Councilman Ed Bell. Mr. Bell was a local legend; a champion of this community for many decades. Although Mr. Bell is no longer with us, his legacy and his impact will live on for ages, both in his capacity as a member of the City Council and in the lives of all the people who have had the pleasure of working with him through the years he was with State Farm.
Councilman Bell was a devoted family man, leaving behind a wife that he loved dearly and a family that he bragged about almost constantly. Mr. Bell’s influence and successes were recognized not only locally, but on state and national levels, as well. Mr. Bell has for years been one of the warmest and most welcoming members of the local elected delegation, making sure to always be in attendance to meet with visitors or representing the city at functions of importance.
On behalf of the County Commissioners, I would like to send out sincere remorse to the family and friends of Ed Bell on their loss. His life’s work has had a positive impact on us all, and we are all grateful to have been able to serve this community alongside him.
The city council meeting scheduled for this evening will be held.
Funeral arrangements are on the obituary page, click HERE.
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