Lucy Jean Bell Knight, 86, of Ethel, died Sunday, February 7, 2021, at her daughter’s home in Winston-Salem, NC.
She was a dedicated follower of Jesus Christ, a loving mother, caring grandmother and dear sister along with being a master teacher. She will be sorely missed.
Visitation is from 6 to 8 p.m. on Friday, February 12, at Jordan Funeral Home. Her funeral service will be held at Ethel Baptist Church, where she was a member, at 11 a.m. Saturday, February 13. Interment will follow at Stonewall Cemetery. Rev. Matt Steed will officiate.
Ms. Knight was born March 18, 1934, in Attala County to Charles P. and Lucy Leonard Bell. A graduate of Ethel High School, she went on to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in Education at the University of Southern Mississippi. It was there she met Frank Hall Knight of Ovett, whom she would later marry. Along with being a wife and mother, she worked as a school teacher in Louisiana, Alabama, and Florida, where she retired in 1994 before returning home to Ethel.
At Ethel Baptist Church, she enjoyed serving as a teacher, cook and hostess. While in Margate, Florida, she helped to plant Atlantic Baptist Church in 1984. She also served as a state leader in the Florida Women’s Missionary Union. At both churches, she served on several pastor search committees through the years.
Ms. Knight is survived by her brother, Charles P. Bell, Jr. of Ethel; a son, Kyle, of Jacksonville, NC; a daughter, Kim (Robert), of Winston-Salem, NC; grandchildren, Lyle Dixon (Heidi) of Madison Heights, MI, Keenan Knight (Sophie) of San Pedro, CA, Laura Lawson (Perry) of Pilot Mountain, NC, Kaitlin Knight of Jacksonville, NC, Luke Dixon (Amanda) of Kernersville, NC, and Lindsey Dixon of Kernersville, NC; great-granddaughter, Ioanna Kosmidis, of Madison Heights, MI; great-grandson, Davin Phipps of Pilot Mountain, NC; many cousins, nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; brothers, Gordon Bell and Leonard Bell; sisters, Lucille Green, Laura Russell, and Charlene Dicken; and great-granddaughter, Lillian Bell Dixon.
Memorials may be sent to the Ethel Baptist Church mission funds.
