On Thursday, May 18, 2018 at 5:05 am, God reached out and cradled Willianna "Bell" Miranda into His loving arms and carried her home to be in paradise with him, and
she passed peacefully in her sleep from earth to glory.

Willianna was born in Belle Rose Lane, Louisiana. She is the daughter of the late Lawrence Bell, Sr. and the late Enola "Albert" Bell, and is a descendent of the Cherokee (Freeman) Tsulakee. She is the wife of Oliver Miranda and the Lord blessed them to be
married for 66 years.

Willianna moved to RI from Belle Rose Lane, Louisiana in the early 1950s. She loved the Lord and was very active in the church. As a child, she was baptized in her home church in Belle Rose, St. James United Methodist Church. When she moved to RI, Coloreds were not allowed to attend the United Methodist Churches, so she joined Bethel A.M.E. Church, located on Meeting Street in Providence. She became very active in the church throughout the years and served on many boards. Willianna was blessed with the gift of song and had a beautiful melodious voice. She sang in the choir and was also a soloist, as well as, the musician and one of the founders of The D.E.S. Youth Gospel Choir, under the direction of Ms. Annye R. Pitts. Willianna believed in supporting the Church and along with her friend and fellow member Mrs. Mildred Smith, they sponsored two annual fund raisers a year to provide revenue for the
church. In 2000, Willianna joined her daughter's church, Disciples of Christ Tabernacle Mission Church and served as the musician and sang the sermon selection every Sunday before her daughter Katherine preached. She served both churches with dedication and commitment to the Most High God.

Willianna worked for many years at Anson Corporation, General Electric in Providence and she was also a City of Providence School Bus Driver. She loved to cook and was an excellent cook; for a period of time she cooked and sold fried chicken sandwiches at The Prince Hall Masonic Temple during the weekends and always sold out. She was a kind, caring, giving, no nonsense, loving person, who possessed the gift of hospitality. Anyone whomever visited her home, was always offered something to eat and drink and they would always leave with a doggie bag. She believed that no one should go hungry and she was always the first one to feed someone. When there was tragedy or illness within the family or among her friends, Willianna was the first one there with a hot pot of food, sleeves rolled up, ready to take charge and lend a helping hand.

She was the best grandmother a child could be blessed with. My late sister Gracie and I never had to ask Mom or Dad to watch the grandchildren, she always called us and said "we want our grandchildren this weekend," what a blessing she was. Besides her husband, she leaves to mourn her passing, her daughter Pastor Katherine Miranda Soares; her sister Jessie Mae Narcisse and brother Lawrence Bell, Jr., both of Belle Rose, Louisiana; two stepsons Oliver Miranda, of Florida and Ronald Miranda of Boston and a stepdaughter, Pricilla Brown of North Carolina. She also leaves ten grandchildren and great grandchildren. She was also preceded in death by her daughter, Gracelyn E. Beatty; her sisters Doristine Garedo; Odessa Harris and her 1 brother Jake Bell. She also leaves a host of family and friends to mourn her passing and she will be missed by all.

She has fought the good fight, finished her earthly course and God has called her home to her eternal rest. May she rest in peace.

Relatives and friends are invited to a home-going service on Tuesday, May 22nd at 11am at Keefe Funeral Home, Five Higginson Ave., Lincoln. Burial will follow in Highland Memorial Park, Johnston. Visitation will begin at from 9am.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in Memory of Willianna "Bell" Miranda to:
The P.A.C.E. Organization of Rhode Island
225 Chapman Street
Providence, RI o2905
401 490-6566
OR
Steere House Nursing & Rehabilitation Center
100 Borden Street
Providence, RI 02903
401 454-7970