Mourners paid their respects to former Sen. John A. Bell, who lay in state Tuesday at the Virgin Islands Legislature building on St. Croix.
A veteran, public servant and lawmaker, Bell’s recent passing elicited an outpouring of condolences from elected officials and community leaders. In a statement ordering that flags be flown at half-mast in his honor, Senate President Milton Potter said Bell guided the legislative process with “fairness, strength, and a commitment to the greater good of the Virgin Islands” during his tenure in the 11th, 12th, 13th, 14th, 16th and 17th Legislatures.
“He worked diligently to strengthen public services, expand educational and economic opportunities, and promote responsible governance and community development,” Potter stated at the time. “His collaborative spirit and willingness to engage across differing perspectives earned him the respect of colleagues and constituents alike.”
In separate statements, Lt. Gov. Tregenza Roach and Delegate to Congress Stacey Plaskett both noted that Bell’s legacy lives on in part through the former Golden Grove Correctional Facility, which was named in Bell’s honor in 2022.
“I was inspired by his life story and how he overcame the troubled path of delinquency to eventually become a public servant and leader of the people,” Roach stated. “By his example, not just by words, Mr. Bell exemplified a whole other approach to how we should deal with persons in our society who sometimes go astray. The best thing we can do to honor his memory is to commit to making the Golden Grove Correctional Facility a place of rehabilitation for those who are incarcerated there.”
Plaskett said naming the facility after Bell was “a fitting tribute to a man who believed deeply in redemption and second chances.”
“Throughout his decades of public service, Senator Bell championed justice, equality, and opportunity for all Virgin Islanders,” she stated. “He lifted up those around him, stood beside families in crisis, mentored young people, and worked tirelessly to shape a more just and equitable territory.”
