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Lavarius Vartel Bell Jr., 16, a freshman student at T.R. Miller High School, passed away Friday in a Pensacola, Fla., hospital.
Funeral services will be held Wednesday, May 18th, 2022 beginning at 1:00 p.m. at the T.R. Miller High School auditorium. Visitation will be from 12 noon until service time with burial at Baptist Hill Cemetery in Brewton.
A celebration of life will be held in honor of the teen on Saturday, May 21, 2022 at 6:30 p.m. at Brewton Municipal Stadium on the campus of T.R. Miller High School.
According to reports, Bell, along with four others, were swimming at Ft. Pickens on Sunday, May 1 when the swimmers began to struggle due to an undertow.
Bell was taken by helicopter to Sacred Heart hospital in Pensacola, Fla., where he was being treated for symptoms of drowning. The other swimmers were able to reach safety after working to rescue Bell. Those companions were treated and released following the incident.
T.R. Miller High School Principal Charles Alford said Bell was a “stand out” student
“He was an excellent student and made good grades,” Alford said. “He was a three-sport athlete in football, basketball and track.”
Alford said Bell was an all-around leader.
“He lead by example in the classroom and in the cafeteria,” Alford said. “He was never a disruption. He cleaned his station in the cafeteria and always held the door for the other students leaving.
“He was a stand out guy and a natural born leader,” Alford said. “He had a great sense of humor that was subtle. He didn’t go around being vocal. He could lead his friends by saying that he wasn’t going to do something and they would follow his lead. We will miss him terribly.”
Published obituary information related points in Bell’s life as well as surviving members of his family.
“Bell was born February 28, 2006 to Nakeya Campbell-McCorvey and Lavarius Bell in Brewton. Lavarius joined Second Saint Siloam Missionary Baptist Church at a very young age, where he was a member of the youth choir. He was baptized by the late Rev. Willie J. Blue. Lavarius had a zest for life and lived it to the fullest. He participated in football, basketball, track and field, but above all his passion was arts and crafts.
“Lavarius leaves his cherished memories to his parents, Nakeya-Campbell McCorvey and Colby McCorvey; father, Lavarius Bell; four sisters, Malaysia Campbell, Alyona Campbell, Marnecia Reid, Myesha Bell; two brothers, Kavarius Bell and Carter McCorvey; grandparents, Barbara Campbell-Hawthorne and Emmitt Hawthorne, Linda Bell and Kenny Bell; and a host of aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.
“Pallbearers will be coaches Brent Hubbert, Andy Lambert, Vincent Harris, Danny Carpenter, Dustin Kennedy and Terrance Walker.”
The complete obituary appears on Page 3 of today’s edition of The Brewton Standard.