Hi folks, my name is Inez, or many of you know me as Z. On October 11th, a few minutes after midnight, my Mama, DJ Bell, took her last breath in the MICU at Yale New Haven Hospital. She was 53. After 20 years of surviving kidney failure, and having spent the last 3 months in the hospital due to several surgeries involving the removal of part of her intestine, my Mother, the love of my life, has transitioned to the heaven she has always told me stories about.
It has always been the three of us - my Grandmother, my Mother and I, three generations surviving against being poor and being sick… I have always relied on my my Mother’s strength and my Grandmother’s courage. Right now, I am out of balance without my Mama. My Grandmother and I are mourning the loss of someone who mattered more than anything in the world to us. I cannot imagine what it feels like for my Grandma to lose her daughter anymore than my Grandma can know what it feels like for me to lose my Mom. We need your support.
The money my Grandmother and I are asking for will go directly towards funeral and memorial costs as well as towards rent and moving costs. After a viewing ceremony with close family, my Mother will be cremated, and her ashes will be spread near a tree she planted in grade school at a local park in New Haven, CT. After these events, my Grandmother and I will need to relocate to a new apartment, which we are in the process of searching for right now.
Thank you in advance for understanding that it is hard to be Black and sick and poor. Your donation means everything in making this process as smooth as possible during this hard time. My Grandmother and I are thankful for the people who have already contributed support in some way, whether financially, emotionally or with physical labor. We are immensely appreciative of whatever you can give at this time. Thank you.
More about DJ
My Mother’s spirit is full with wisdom, curiosity, creativity, audacity, willingness, sacrifice and love. She spent many of her years in college and Nursing School, earning degrees towards working as a Registered Nurse at Yale for many years before retiring due to sickness. My Mother was a cook, specializing in Italian and Jamaican food. She had a special love for reading and writing - she taught me the importance of words, stories and poetry at a very young age. My Mom loved God and knew the Bible from Genesis to Revelations. Mama loved Stevie Wonder more than he himself loved that Ribbon in The Sky and she loved Prince more than his Little Red Corvette. Her favorite musicals were Fiddler on the Roof and Oliver. She loved to dance. My Mother especially loved her Grandmother more than the world can know - it makes me smile that she can finally be reunited with her.
My Mom taught me how to Do All Things with Love.
My Grandmother and I thank you.
Be Safe + Be Well,
D. Inez “Z” Bell and Yzvonne Gore
It has always been the three of us - my Grandmother, my Mother and I, three generations surviving against being poor and being sick… I have always relied on my my Mother’s strength and my Grandmother’s courage. Right now, I am out of balance without my Mama. My Grandmother and I are mourning the loss of someone who mattered more than anything in the world to us. I cannot imagine what it feels like for my Grandma to lose her daughter anymore than my Grandma can know what it feels like for me to lose my Mom. We need your support.
The money my Grandmother and I are asking for will go directly towards funeral and memorial costs as well as towards rent and moving costs. After a viewing ceremony with close family, my Mother will be cremated, and her ashes will be spread near a tree she planted in grade school at a local park in New Haven, CT. After these events, my Grandmother and I will need to relocate to a new apartment, which we are in the process of searching for right now.
Thank you in advance for understanding that it is hard to be Black and sick and poor. Your donation means everything in making this process as smooth as possible during this hard time. My Grandmother and I are thankful for the people who have already contributed support in some way, whether financially, emotionally or with physical labor. We are immensely appreciative of whatever you can give at this time. Thank you.
More about DJ
My Mother’s spirit is full with wisdom, curiosity, creativity, audacity, willingness, sacrifice and love. She spent many of her years in college and Nursing School, earning degrees towards working as a Registered Nurse at Yale for many years before retiring due to sickness. My Mother was a cook, specializing in Italian and Jamaican food. She had a special love for reading and writing - she taught me the importance of words, stories and poetry at a very young age. My Mom loved God and knew the Bible from Genesis to Revelations. Mama loved Stevie Wonder more than he himself loved that Ribbon in The Sky and she loved Prince more than his Little Red Corvette. Her favorite musicals were Fiddler on the Roof and Oliver. She loved to dance. My Mother especially loved her Grandmother more than the world can know - it makes me smile that she can finally be reunited with her.
My Mom taught me how to Do All Things with Love.
My Grandmother and I thank you.
Be Safe + Be Well,
D. Inez “Z” Bell and Yzvonne Gore