Youngstown woman to be celebrated as 'oldest living resident' of east side community

A Youngstown woman will be receiving quite the honor at the Sharonline Reunion Friday evening.
A banquet will be held in the honor of Celia Bell, who just recently celebrated her 100th birthday on August 24, making her the oldest living resident in her community.
21 News caught up with Celia's daughter, Cheryl Levy, who tells us her mother's lived quite the fulfilling life, even having a book of poetry published at the age of 91.
Bell was born in Greeleyville, South Carolina on August 24, 1923 to John and Tressie Williams. The family relocated to Youngstown when Bell was just nine months old.
She graduated Rayen High School in 1942 and worked as a records specialist at General Fireproofing., She was also certified in early childcare after attending the Choffin Career and Technical Center and worked as a childcare instructor at the Learning Depot.
She married the late Shed Bell Jr., with whom she had three children. Levy tells 21 News she is the middle child with her sister Carolyn being the oldest and her brother Shed Bell III, also known as "Teddy" being the youngest.
Bell was well-known in her neighborhood for her baking skills cooking up delicious sweets from cookies, to cakes to pies that she shared with the community. Levy tells 21 News her mother was often told she should start her own bakery.
Levy tells us the Lord is very important to Bell, with her accepting Him into her life at the age of 12. She still reads scriptures every day and regards the Bible as one of her most valuable possessions. Levy says her mother credits the Lord for her longevity and good health.
Bell even took her love for the Lord a step further when she had her book of poetry entitled, "In Praise of Him" published in 2013 at the age of 91 even having one of those poems published in another book of poetry from around the world.
Levy tells 21 News Bell was always very supportive of her and her siblings' dreams with her being very supportive of Levy's passion for singing taking her to singing lessons as a child and supporting her on her journey the music school at YSU.
Bell will be celebrated at a banquet at the McGuffey Center on Jacobs Road at 6:00 p.m. on Friday, September 1.