She鈥檚 known as the Jewel in King鈥檚 crown, and for good reason 鈥� Jewel Bell served with the University for seven straight decades.
Known as Ma Bell, GG, Gran, or simply the Queen of King, Jewel retired from King in September 2022 at the age of 93 鈥� but will forever be considered part of the President鈥檚 team.
鈥淢ore than anyone else, Jewel personifies the heart and soul of the King community,鈥� said President Alexander Whitaker. 鈥淗er great affinity for students, alumni, faculty, and staff is a daily source of strength. She radiates humor, models grace, and has influenced positive change throughout our region over the course of many decades, setting an example we should all aspire to follow.鈥�
Jewel came to King in 1952, a year when Elizabeth II became Queen, Eisenhower defeated Truman, Mother Teresa opened her first hospice home, and Hemingway published 鈥淭he Old Man and the Sea.鈥�
What was initially expected to be a two-week housekeeper job in the women鈥檚 residence hall became a permanent position after former King President R.T.L. Liston asked her to stay. As she worked to support her own growing family, Jewel naturally developed into the role of confidante, supporter and sage, first to the young women around her and then to all students on campus. In 1961, when the decision was made to install a campus switchboard, Jewel was a natural fit to serve as supervisor.
Her new position came with a staff of 10 assistants and located her in the central lobby of Parks Hall, where she could keep track of her flock of female students 鈥� as well as those coming to see them. While her office occasionally shifted locations in the following decades, her role as the literal voice of King has never changed.
鈥淚f you have called King鈥檚 main number or walked into the Administration building in the last several decades, you have likely been greeted by Jewel and experienced her gracious hospitality,鈥� Whitaker said. 鈥淪he more than anyone else has been the face of King.鈥�
Jewel鈥檚 unwavering dedication to King鈥檚 students, along with her longstanding devotion to community, has earned her multiple awards. She is a winner of the Algernon Sydney Sullivan award and an honoree of the YWCA鈥檚 Tribute to Women Program. She was recognized with the establishment of the Jewel H. Bell scholarship at King in 2007. She is also the recipient of the University鈥檚 first-ever Lifetime Service Award and has been honored with a street that bears her name on the Bristol campus. She was the school鈥檚 first honorary alumna, and the King Board of Trustees recently granted her emerita status.
In December 2022, in recognition of her exemplary service and character, she was presented with a Doctor of Humane Letters.
A tireless community volunteer, Jewel has devoted decades of support to organizations such as the American Red Cross and Slater Community Center. She was an original volunteer of Healing Hands Health Center, serving with the clinic from the time it opened its doors, and has supported the YWCA of Northeast Tennessee/Southwest Virginia for nearly half a century, lending her voice and the strength of her experience to the empowerment of women and the elimination of racism. She also served on the Bristol City PTA council during the civil rights era, was the first African-American PTA council president, and is a longtime member of Lee Street Baptist Church.
鈥淛ewel continuously models the call to go above and beyond in serving others,鈥� said Whitaker. 鈥淲hile she has cared for four generations and dozens of members of her own family, those who look to her as a matriarch measure in the thousands.鈥�