Oral history with Josephine Clemons Bell

              An Oral History with Josephine Clemons Bell
This oral history is provided through a cooperative project of USM Libraries and USM's Center for Oral History and Cultural Heritage It is presented here for reference purposes only. Interviews in this collection are protected by copyright and PERMISSION TO PUBLISH MUST BE REQUESTED from the Center for Oral History and Cultural Heritage. Please call ( 601) 266- 4574 for more information.
Biography
Mrs. Josephine Clemons Bell was born April 12, 1909, in Concordia Parish, Louisiana. She was the oldest daughter of James Clemons and Julia Clemons Russell. When she was five, her mother returned to Natchez, Mississippi. She married Rhetaugh Graves after finishing high school in 1927. They had two children, Rhetaugh and Wade. Her third child, Norman, was born of her second marriage to Norman Bell, Sr. She has nine grandchildren. Mrs. Bell received her Bachelor of Science degree from Alcorn College in Lorman, Mississippi. She did graduate study at Southern Connecticut College in New Haven, Connecticut and Tuskegee Institute, Alabama. Her teaching career in elementary education in the public schools of Natchez- Adams County spans twenty- nine and a half years. After retiring in 1974, she became even more involved in politics and community affairs. She continues to serve on the Adams County Democratic Executive Committee and the Federation of Democratic Women's Organization, where she was president for twelve years. She has also provided outstanding leadership and participation in the Retired Senior Volunteer Program and Council. She is a member of the board of directors of Adams County American Association of Retired People ( AARP) and of AJFC. She is a member of the Mississippi Teachers Association ( MTA), National Education Association ( NEA), Alcorn Alumni Association, Retired Teachers Association, NAACP, Homemakers of America, and Catherine Williams Homemakers Club. Mrs. Bell is a member of Zion Chapel AME Church, where she is a class leader, member of the Missionary Society, and treasurer of the Daughters of Zion.
Topics Discussed
Family and childhood Housing Mother's working School days at the Union School and Brumfield High School Bell's assessment of the quality of her education Attending college Working for and friendship with the Metcalf family Teaching Classroom size and conditions
mus- coh. bellj. doc Page 1 of 49