Johnnie T. Bell Metropolitan Funeral

Johnnie Tolbert Bell (Rosie) was born May 27, 1960, in Demopolis, AL to the late Legretha Tolbert Lawson and Johnnie Lawson, Jr.  After battling a seven-week health challenge, she was quietly called home on Friday afternoon, July 2, 2021, at Chesapeake Regional Medical Center, Chesapeake, VA.

Johnnie graduated from Demopolis High School in 1978. She married her high school sweetheart, Robert Richardson Jr., and traveled the country with him with the U.S. Army. In 1984, her travels landed her in Virginia where she resided until her death. They were blessed with one son, Robert Richardson, III.

As a child Johnnie attended Eastern Star Baptist Church in Demopolis, AL. She later served as an usher at Bethany Baptist Church and Solid Rock Church in Chesapeake, VA. Most recently she was a partner at The Mount Chesapeake and The Mount at Virginia Beach. Johnnie worked many years in retail and food service for Kmart Corporation. Most recently she worked for Compass Group at the Anthem Building in Virginia Beach. Because of her infectious smile and fun-loving personality, she was known as the “mayor’ of Anthem. Johnnie never met a stranger and would help anyone that she could. She was always kind and sweet.

She especially enjoyed giving treats to the neighborhood children who called her the “candy lady”. Her family knew her as the light of the family, always ready to laugh and have fun. Johnnie was big sports fan. She loved the Alabama Crimson Tide, but she was a die-hard Dallas Cowboys fan. Johnnie was preceded in death by her parents, grandparents, and oldest sister Jennie Mae Rowser.

She leaves to treasure her loving memories: son Robert Richardson, III; life-long partner John Ball; six sisters, Jeanette Tolbert Milton (Gary) of Chesapeake, VA, Julia Tolbert Wallace of Wendell, NC, Bobbie Tolbert Hall (Mike) of Bessemer, AL, Shirley Bishop Perry (Brian) of Montgomery, AL, Carolyn Bryant of Demopolis, AL, and June Lawson of Cleveland, OH; four brothers, Roy Simmons of Linden, AL, Elvis Tolbert of Fairfield, AL, John Anthony Bryant (Rosetta) of Lansing, MI and Calvin Lee Bryant (Katherine) of Tuscaloosa, AL; step son Michael Dell (Shelby) of Virginia Beach, VA; step daughter Jennifer Wehr (Josh) of Virginia Beach, VA; sister in-law Julie Carr (Kurt) of Brighton, MI; two brother in-laws, James Rowser of Demopolis, AL, Brian Parsons (Mary Jo) of Brighton, MI; God Mom Barbara Mayo of Chesapeake, VA; five aunts; five uncles; and a host of nieces, nephews and friends.

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