Volonte Bell / John P. Franklin Funeral HomeFuneral arrangements have been announced for 29-year-old Volonte C. Bell, an assistant coach for the Chattanooga State men’s basketball program and a beloved member of the local sports community. Bell was killed this past Sunday in a crash on Interstate 24 in Chattanooga.
Bell, the older brother of former Ridgeland High School football star and current New Orleans Saints safety Vonn Bell, was in his third season as an assistant at Chattanooga State.
A public viewing for Bell will be held Saturday from noon to 8:30 p.m. at John P. Franklin Funeral Home, 1101 Dodds Ave. The funeral service is at 2 p.m. Sunday at Olivet Baptist Church, 740 East M.L. King Blvd.
His obituary states he was a longtime resident of Chattanooga but also lived in Topeka, Kansas; Huntsville, Alabama; and Dallas.
“Volonte was a very outgoing young man and people person, who always had a big smile,” the obit states. “He would go out of his way to help someone. Volonte had a passion for coaching and gave it his all. He loved the Lord and loved his family and friends.”
Bell left behind a young son.
Around 9:38 pm. Sunday, Chattanooga police responded to the multivehicle crash at 18400 I-24 eastbound. According to police, a Volvo truck with a trailer attached to the back was traveling in the middle lane when Bell’s Honda Civic traveling behind it failed to slow down and struck the trailer.
Bell was pronounced dead at the scene, a news release stated.
Rick Rogers, Bell’s former basketball coach at Central High School, said he was the kind of athlete who didn’t care about the spotlight or stats and was the “ultimate teammate.”
“Volonte displayed the intangibles of sport that most athletes let slip by,” Rogers said Friday. “Every teammate was equally important and he valued relationships with teachers, fans, cheerleaders, refs and media. Really anybody he came in contact with. He impacted the lives of kids and coaches wherever he went and had a passion to work with kids. Everyone who knew him and loved him will miss his smile and the way he could light up a room.”
State Rep. Yusuf Hakeem, D-Chattanooga, paid tribute to Bell Friday in his legislative email newsletter.
“Volonte Bell was more than just an assistant coach; he was a friend, mentor, and inspiration, to not only his student athletes but for so many of us in Chattanooga, including myself,” he wrote. “I will never forget the time I first met Volonte. He had a remarkable spirit; he was incredibly passionate about his students, and his smile lit up the room. I am deeply saddened to see someone with such a promising future taken too early. My prayers goes out to the Bell family. Know that in this dark time, your family is not alone, the City of Chattanooga and all of Hamilton County grieves with you.”