Robert Bell

Rev. Robert Martin Bell, 86, of Mullins, South Carolina, passed away peacefully on Thursday, May 28th, 2026, and entered into the presence of his Lord and Savior who he so faithfully served. He was born in Mullins, South Carolina on February 09, 1940, the son of the late Robert Gasque “R.G.” Bell and the late Sallie Martin Bell.

Even at a young age, his love for the Lord was apparent, and he was baptized into the fellowship of Little Bethel Baptist Church in Mullins on August 14, 1948. At the age of 9, his family moved to Weldon, North Carolina where Robert would eventually graduate from Weldon High School. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Modern Languages at Furman University in 1962, and a Bachelor of Divinity degree in 1966 from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. After his ordination in the Gospel ministry, Robert attended La Valle University in Quebec, Canada one summer to study the French language. He later taught French for one year in Florence, South Carolina.

Robert sensed that God was calling him to minister to the people of Central and South America and in 1963, he toured the mission field in South America. Upon his return to the United States, he served for two years as assistant pastor in Baltimore, Maryland, before moving to Philadelphia, where he worked part-time under the Southern Baptist Home Mission Board (HMB). In 1973, he was commissioned as a missionary serving in Philadelphia, where he ministered to the Spanish-speaking community and coordinated a Spanish-language radio ministry.

When Robert began serving in Utuado, Puerto Rico, God placed a special burden on his heart for the Spanish-speaking deaf community. Out of that calling grew a deeply meaningful and fruitful ministry, “Voice for the Deaf” (“Ministerio Voz Para Sordos”). What began as a small outreach expanded over the years into schools, camps, training opportunities, and resources that touched lives throughout Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Honduras, Guatemala, and the United States.

Robert loved encouraging Hispanic churches throughout the Pee Dee region of South Carolina and was always grateful for every opportunity to share the love of Christ. He was a thankful member of Iglesia Bautista Emanuel, which meets at Homewood Baptist Church in Conway. There he especially enjoyed praising the Lord, hearing His Word preached, and sharing sweet Christian fellowship with his church family.

His survivors include his nephew Roderique Bell (Sara), his niece, Catherine A. Bell, sister-in-law Joyce Bell, cherished cousins, Rev. Jim Bell (Melody), Rev. Glen Bell (Anne), Sylvia Pridgen Soholt, Hal Pridgen (Lynn), Kathy Cooper Brown (Jimmy), Rev. Roy Cooper (Dirce), Terry Ammons (Janet), Randy Sawyer (Susan), Sheila Martin Charrier (Ed), Louann Martin, Missy Martin as well as his church family and his many friends.

Mr. Bell was predeceased by his parents, his brothers Thomas and C. Alan Bell; his uncles H.G. Martin, James and Douglas Bell, his aunts Katie Martin Sawyer and Lib Bell Pridgen as well as his cousins Della Jane and Rupert Cooper, Buddy Sawyer, and Lucille Sawyer.

Friends are invited to visit with the family from 1:00 until 2:00 p.m., Sunday, May 31, 2026, in the sanctuary of Homewood Baptist Church in Conway. A funeral service will follow the visitation beginning at 2:00 p.m. in the sanctuary with committal to follow at 4:00 p.m. at Cedardale Cemetery in Mullins.

The family suggests that memorials be made in Robert’s memory to Robert’s Spanish church, Iglesia Bautista Emanuel, 3296 Highway 319 East, Conway, South Carolina, 29526 to continue the work he was so deeply passionate about.

“Bién, buen siérvo y fíel; sobre poco has sido fíel, sobre muncho te pondré, entra en el gozo de tu señor.” - Mateo 25:23

An online guestbook is available at www.meares.com.

Meares Funeral Home is honored to serve the Bell family.