The Reverend Holly Bell—passionate religious educator, inspiring preacher, and lover of nature—died on 22 January 2016 at age 85.
With ordination in 1973, Holly stood in the vanguard of women entering UU ministry during the so-called “second wave” of feminism, and she became an important mentor to a generation of women aspiring to ministry. The Rev. Rachel Tedesco recalls seeing Holly sitting formally on the stage back in the early 1980s as the lone clergywoman among four male ministers: “Her very presence made such a big impression on me that my own ministry seemed like a real possibility.”
Throughout her life Holly actively exercised her social conscience by advocating and demonstrating for fair and equitable treatment of all. She found deep and profound connections to the natural and physical world and was comforted by the idea that at death she would ultimately go back to the universe from which she came.
Jeanne Hollyberry Millett was born on 9 December 1930 to Robert N. and Leonora (Mann) Millett. Her middle name was chosen to mark her birthdate during the Advent season, and “Holly” was how she was nearly universally known. After graduation from Keene (NH) High School at age 16, she earned her B.A. from Smith College in 1951. It was in those college years that she found her passion for the UU church. With a passion for religious education, she served All Souls (now UU) Church of Greenfield, Mass, as DRE (1956-70), before returning to school to earn an M.A. in religious studies in 1973.
Ms. Bell was ordained to the ministry in 1973 by her Greenfield church and the next year was called as minister to Unity Church (UU) of North Easton, Mass, where she served for 25 years and was voted minister emerita on retirement in 1999.
Holly was deeply connected to nature, and enjoyed hiking, camping, canoeing, birdwatching, and gardening. She was a dog lover and an avid reader, and spent many summers at Star Island Family Conference and Rowe Camp. In addition to the outdoors, Holly enjoyed cooking, crafting, and baking. Holly Bell outlived her sister, Cheryl, as well as a son, Marc. She is survived by her children Peter M. Bell, Rebecca H. “Becky” Bell, and Elizabeth M. “Libby” Kellard, and grandchildren, Emily Bell Springett, Christopher H. Bell, Meghan E. Kellard, and Alyssa M. Kellard. She was the spouse of the late Hubert W. Bell and the late Gerald C. Bailey.
A memorial service was scheduled for May 21, 2016, at the Congregational Unitarian Society of Bernardston, Mass. Condolences may be sent to Rebecca Bell, 1603 Tina Lane, Castleton, NY 12033. Memorial donations are encouraged to the UUA by check payable to “Friends of the UUA” and mailed to the UUA, Attention: Gift Processing, 24 Farnsworth Street, Boston, MA 02210.