Jane Delynn Bell

JANE BELL

Jane DeLynn Bell, 51, a lifelong resident of Starkville, passed away Sunday, Aug. 22 at Baptist Hospital in Columbus from natural causes.

Born in Starkville on April 5, 1970, Ms. Bell was a standout athlete in her youth, excelling at several sports in high school before earning a scholarship to play softball at Delta State Unniversity. At Starkville High School she was the first female to play on the men's soccer team.
Following her tenure at DSU, Ms. Bell returned to Starkville to earn her degree from Mississippi State University in 1993 and begin a teachng and coaching career in the Starkville School District, where she coached soccer, volleyball and softball and was beloved by her colleagues, students and athletes. She is remembered as an outstanding friend, teacher and mentor and is remembered for her love and care of animals.

She was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church of Starkville.

She was preceded in death by her father, David Bell of Starkville and is survived by her mother, Kathleen Winston of Starkville; step father Dennis Winston of Starkville; brother James Hunniford of Dumfries, Va.; sister Cindy Taylor of Meridian; nieces Lani Taylor of Meridian and Annalee Hunniford of Dumfries, Va.; nephews Will Hunniford of Dumfries, Va. and Austin Bize of Starkville and grandmother Jane Ammerman of Starkville, as well as numerous uncles and aunts and cousins.

Services will be 10 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 26 at Oktibbeha Memorial Garden Park Cemetery in Starkville. Gunter Peel Funeral Home inn Columbus is in charge of arrangements.

The family has requested that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Oktibbeha County Humane Society or St. Jude Children's Hospital.