Obituary

Celia Bell Brown Forbes

May 26, 1934 - December 2, 2025

"I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.  I am beginning a new life, far better, far sweeter, without pain, sickness, sorrow, hurt and most of all no more suffering. To everything there is a reason and a time to every purpose under the heaven; a time to weep and a time of war and truly there has been war. I can’t fight anymore battles. I’m tired, it’s time to take my rest." 

Celia Bell Brown Forbes, age 91 and of Bogalusa, Louisiana, a beloved wife, mother, sister, grandmother, great grandmother, great-great grandmother, aunt, cousin and friend surrounded by her family departed life from this world of sin, sorrow, and pain to a place of eternal rest on December 2, 2025.   

She was one of 7 siblings, born May 26, 1934 in Bogalusa, Louisiana to the late Jim Brown and her mother, the late Isabel Conerly Brown. Bell was united in holy matrimony in 1952 to Arnold Lee Forbes and to this union 14 children were born. Jimmy, Ora, John, Patricia, Oliver, Charles, Arnold Jr., Sandra, Jeffrey, Pamela, Carol, Lenelva, Martha and Shawnda.  She had one still born child.  Ultimately, prior to her death there were 5 living generations from their union. She raised her grandson Quincy Forbes and granddaughter, the late Kristyona Fountain as her own. 

Mom was a friend, a caregiver, and a pillar in our community. My father and mother raised the children during one of the most difficult times of our nation’s history. The fight for civil rights and desegregation.  She and other women were caring for the children while the men were out protecting our community. She was always willing to be in the village to help raise and support her family.  Bell was proud that her father, Jim Brown and others came together to build her a house.  She spent many years as a caregiver for my grandmother Isabel Brown, Uncle Paurine, Aunt Molly, Ms. Patience and others.  After the death of her husband, she spent many years with special friend, the late Mr. Elvin Nelson Moses. 

Bell was the family matriarch. A woman of style, sass and she was the heartbeat of the family. She accepted Christ at an early age and was baptized at First Church of God in Christ, Bogalusa Louisiana. After becoming ill, church service on TV became her connection to God. She was happy to spread the gospel of the Lord to everyone.  She constantly prayed for the Lord to open a gateway for her children to get into Heaven. She will be remembered for her love and concern for people and devotion to her community and lifelong friends. 

She was preceded in death by her husband Arnold Lee Forbes Sr., daughter Ora Lee (Honey Bee) Forbes Gatlin Bell; sons Jimmy Lee (Thigh) Forbes, Charles Anthony Forbes and Arnold Lee (Molly) Forbes Jr.; beloved parents, Jim and Isabel Brown; brothers Cleveland, Clinton (Blue Plate and Jimmy Brown; sisters -Ora Dee Brown and Irene Peters, mother and father in law -Oliver and Martha Forbes, daughter in law, Glenda Watson; sons in law Larry Gatlin, Daniel Gibson, Milton Bell and Donald Varnado; grandchildren, Wednesday Foster, Jasmine Foster, Charles (Hubba) Forbes, Arnold V. Forbes III, Kristyona Fountain; Brandon P. Forbes; Tajdryn Forbes; and special friends, Audrey Sartin, Judy McDowell, Henrietta Hammond, Helen Page, Dorothy Nell Lewis, Thelma Robinson, Minnie Taylor, Roberta Sibley, Joyce Hughes, Jessie Thomas and Hatti Mae Thomas. 

Left in God’s care to live out her legacy and cherish her memories are daughters, Patricia Gibson, Sandra (Vernon) Cooley, Pamela Foster, Carolyn Varnado, Lenelva (Byron) Tyner and Martha Forbes of Bogalusa, Louisiana and Shawanda Mingo of Houston, Texas; sons, John Wesley Forbes of Bogalusa, Louisiana, Brigade CSM, US Army (Retired), Oliver (Cynthia) Forbes of Pearland, Texas, and Jeffrey (Melinda) Forbes of Bogalusa, Louisiana; 45 grandchildren, 69 great grandchildren and 7 great-great grandchildren; daughter in laws, Sandra Forbes of Bogalusa Louisiana and Shirley Forbes of Houston, Texas; sister, Corrine Watson of Milwaukee, Wisconsin claimed son, Donald (Patricia) Lewis, daughter by her words Caprice Dyson; add special nieces, Felicia Brown of Atlanta, Georgia and Sandra Watson of Milwaukee, Wisconsin; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and other family members and family friends.

The visitation will be Friday, December 12, 2025 11:00a.m.-1:00p.m. at Bethlehem Baptist Church with the funeral to follow at 1:00p.m. Bishop Howard Louisiana Quillens - Eulogist and Rev. Christopher Matthews-Officiant. 

Crain and Sons Funeral Home - Bogalusa, LA in charge of arrangements.