Imani Turtle Song

IMANI TURTLE SONG born Deandre Denise Bell on June 16, 1952, to Dorothy Mae Wilson-Bell and Dee Daniel Bell.  She was the 2^nd oldest of 5 siblings.  She attended Arsenal Technical High School in Indianapolis and graduated from Ball State University, Muncie, Indiana. Imani moved from Indianapolis, Indiana and made her home in Albuquerque, New Mexico where she resided until her passing.  Imani spent and enjoyed her time on the Navajo Reservation, where she taught English as a second language.

In 1999 she graduated from the University of New Mexico with her master’s in Counseling. Imani specialized in mental health and continued to serve her community until her passing.

Imani departed this life on October 23^rd, at Bear Canyon Rehabilitation Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico after a battle with several health issues. Imani is preceded in death by her parents, Dee and Dorothy Bell, and her brother, Brian Bell.

Imani leaves to cherish her memory, sisters, Lonna J. Bell (Cincinnati, Ohio), Marta Bell and Monique Bell (Indianapolis, Indiana)

The family would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to Susan and Keith Cameron, Jennifer and Brian Musselman, and Raymond and Ivie Smith. Thank you for your unwavering love, support, kindness, and friendship.

There are a host of other friends that she loved very much, and you too are a part of her legacy.

There will be no formal burial services.  Imani chose to be cremated and an ash-scattering ceremony to honor her wishes will be held at a later date. 

The family of Imani Turtle Song wishes to acknowledge with deep appreciation the many comforting messages, prayers, flowers, and other expressions of kindness and concern extended to us in our time of sorrow.  May God Bless you.

This beautiful image was captured from Imani’s home the morning after her passing.

“In Genesis 9, God sealed his promise with a rainbow in the sky. In the midst of the devastation from the flood of judgement, there was a beautiful rainbow in the sky symbolizing God’s gracious promise! God did not promise we will never experience storms, but He has promised He will be with us during them.”

Do not stand by my grave, and weep.
 I am not there, I do not sleep—
I am the thousand winds that blow
I am the diamond glints in snow
I am the sunlight on ripened grain,
I am the gentle, autumn rain.
As you awake with morning’s hush,
I am the swift, up-flinging rush
Of quiet birds in circling flight,
I am the day transcending night.
     Do not stand by my grave, and cry—
     I am not there,
          I did not die.

— Clare Harner, The Gypsy, December 1934