Obituary of Emily Vanitta Bell

Emily V. (Roberts) Kirby-Bell was born on October 6, 1946, to Theodore and Emily Roberts in St. Louis, Missouri, but was raised in Kansas City, Missouri where she gave birth to five of her children. Emily made the tough decision to leave Kansas City with her five children in order to provide a better life for them. She moved to Denver, Colorado where she created a life for herself and her 5 children. Sometime later her family was extended when she gave birth to twins. Emily was employed by several different companies where she was a loyal hardworking employee, and a good friend. Emily was a life-time member of A. Philip Randolph Inst. Denver Chapter and the recording Secretary for years. She believed in social justice for all and volunteered her services to different charities and organizations for fund raisers. She also was a proud union member in ATU-1001, and helped organized the ATU Woman's Caucus in Colorado. Emily loved her brothers and sister, which included Leonard, Valentine, Theodore, Jr., Hervia, Isaac and her only sister Ruthie. The love that each one had for the other was pure and strong. Emily's legacy was her children, grandchildren, greatgrandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews and cousins. She gave birth to seven children but was a mother to eight Marchelle, Gerald, Cornell, Cindy, Christeal, Earl, Cheryl and Donnell. She admired and loved each one with their unique personalities that exhibited the love and nurturing of a devoted mother. She had 36 grandchildren and 23 great-grandchildren. They had a friend in their grandmother. They would go to her for sound and godly advice. To know Emily you would have had to become part of a family that was entertaining and fun. There was always love, disagreements, and comradeship with plenty of food for your soul. Emily spoke softly, but her words were strong and carried the weight of their meaning. Emily rarely raised her voice but when she did you knew she meant business. She was patient, gentle, loving and kind. Her lasting impact on anyone who knew and loved her was that she was the soft voice of thunderous reasoning. She loved yellow roses, drawing, sketching, and music (The Golden Oldies). She was known for her grace, beauty and expectable style. Emily loved her family and friends, exemplifying loyalty to the end. With his tender love God sent an angel to call Emily home Friday, January 30, 2015 at 12:32 PM. Her parents Theodore and Emily C. Roberts, one brother, Leonard Boyd, one grandson and granddaughter preceded her in death. Those remaining to cherish her love and memory, her children, Marchelle (Leonard) Kirby-Hope, Gerald (Kathy) Kirby, Cornell Kirby, Cindy (Shawn) Kirby-Payne, Christeal (Robert) Kirby-Tanze, Earl (Racheal) Muhammad, Cheryl (Dell) Bell-Smith and Donnell (Latiefa) Roberts; brothers, Valentine Roberts, Theodore Roberts, Jr., Hervia Roberts, Isaac Roberts; sister, Ruthie Johnson, 36 grandchildren and 23 greatgrandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends. Rest in peace...Emily