Lavida Rose Bell was born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana to Ellen and Henry Gordon. She lived in Louisiana until 1989. She then moved to Oakland, CA. She would live the rest of her life surrounded by her devoted family. If you know Vida Rose, you know that she loved to cook. You could often find her in a kitchen cooking or scribbling down recipes on any sheet of paper she could find. Growing up, if her children asked for fast food, she would respond; "I can make that!" and surely whatever Vida cooked would make you forget about any fast food that you thought you wanted. To say she was smart would be an understatement. There was no crossword puzzle that she couldn't complete. But let's talk about how funny she was! The jokes could be sweet or savage, but one thing is certain, there would be no dry eye because you would be laughing so hard that you cry. Her humor and wit could only be matched by her tremendous beauty.

She is preceded in death by her father, Henry Gordon; her mother, Ellen Gordon; her sisters: Barbara Northern, Pamela Anne Sykes, Janice Cunningham and her Niece, Angela Northern. She is survived by the love of her life, Wilbert Cobbs; her siblings: Ruby Lee James, Myra Gordon, Charles Gordon, Andre Fisher; her children: Lydia (Renaye) Whitmore, Melissa Staton, Candace Bell, Valerie Bell, and Lavida (Five) Bell; her grandchildren: Derishai Gordon-Staton, Eugene Whitmore Jr., Saeed Skinner, Kalah Whitmore, Hasani Wright, Jemil Staton, Anthony Canton Jr., Kaleo Whitmore, James Staton, Phoenix Bell-Coleman, Kairo Coleman, Kanaan Coleman, Rahki Bell-Butler, her great-granddaughter Mauree Waldron along with a host of nieces, nephews and god children.

Please join us for a memorial celebrating the life of Lavida Rose Bell at 2pm on Saturday January 28, 2023. The celebration of life with take place at 2801 F St. Bakersfield, CA 93301.