Jay Christopher Bell

Jay Christopher Bell, 48, passed away on May 2, 2023. Born July 31, 1974 in Spartanburg, S.C., Jay graduated from Boiling Springs High School and later received his B.A. in Communications from the College of Charleston. After college, he worked as a reporter for The Laurens County Advertiser before joining the family-owned business, MLB Builders. Upon moving to Charleston, he joined The Sustainability Institute as Project Manager where he combined his talent for building with his passion for service to create nationally-recognized workforce development programs for at-risk youth and veterans.     
An avid lover of the outdoors, Jay enjoyed running, camping, mountain biking, fishing, kayaking, and gardening. He had a soft spot for animals, adopting or raising numerous dogs, cats, and chickens throughout his life. Most importantly, he was passionate about giving back: growing sunflowers and building memorial benches to honor family members, raising money for cancer survivors through Dragon Boat Charleston, and supporting community efforts as a member of the Charleston chapter of Fitness, Fellowship, and Faith (F3).  
Jay is remembered by loved ones for his dry wit, intelligence, and commitment to serving others. He is preceded in death by sister, Crystal Bell Selvaggio, and is survived by his parents, Michael and Sheila; brother Michael (Tracy); nephew Travis (Tori) and niece Cassidy; and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends.
A service honoring Jay’s life will be held on June 10, 2023 at 11:00 AM at Seawright Funeral Home located at 26 East Main St., Inman, S.C. Friends will be received from 10:00 – 10:45 AM prior to the service.   
Memorial contributions may be made to Dragon Boat Charleston. To pay by check, please write “In memory of Jay Bell” in the memo line and mail to: 

Dragon Boat Charleston
1643 Savannah Hwy. #261
Charleston, S.C. 29407. 

An online donation form is also available: https://dragonboatcharleston.charityproud.org/Donate.