The funeral service will be Sunday for the Chattanooga State assistant basketball coach who was killed in a wreck on I-24 last Sunday night.
Volonte Christopher Bell was 29.
The native of
Topeka, Kansas was a longtime resident of Chattanooga but also lived in Topeka, Huntsville, Ala., and Dallas.
He was a member of Olivet Baptist Church.
He was described as "a very outgoing young man and people person, who always had a big smile. He would go out of his way to help someone. Volonte had a passion for coaching and gave it his all. He loved the Lord and loved his family and friends."
He was a graduate of Central High School Class of 2009, where he was All County/District and Regional. In January 2018, he earned an AS degree at Chattanooga State and in December 2018 he earned a BS at UTC, achieving the Dean’s List.
Survivors include his son, Julian Alexander of Cedar Rapids, La.; parents, Vencent and Vanessa Bell, Ooltewah; brother, Vonn Bell, Chattanooga; grandfather, David Bell, Sr., West Point, Ms.; grandmother, Pearl Carter, Paducah, Ky.; uncles, David (Wanda) Bell, Jr., Houston, Ms., Elvis Clay, West Point, Ms., Michael (Yvonne) Dickerson, Dayton, Oh.; aunts, Elaine Bell, San
Antonio, Tx., Carolyn (Marcus) Glover, Monice Clarke, Madison, Al., Angela (Allen) Thomas, West Point, Ms., Chandra (John) Barnes, Toney, Al., Denise Carter, New Market, Al.; and a host of cousins, relatives and friends.
Public viewing will begin at 12-8:30 p.m. on Saturday.
A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. on Sunday at Olivet Baptist Church. Mr. Bell will be interred at a later date in West Point, Ms.
Arrangements are by John P. Franklin Funeral Home, 1101 Dodds Ave.