Funeral Tuesday for Record Store Owner Mike Bell

A graveside service will take place Tuesday, Dec. 31 for Michael Sutherland Bell of Stone Mountain, who has died of cancer at the age of 64.

Bell was the owner and operator of Records Galore in Clarkston for the last 33 years, the longest running business in the city. He served in Vietnam from 1968 to 1969 and was awarded the Army Commendation Medal for meritorious service. 

Bell was a lifelong collector of vinyl record albums and singles, and also collected vintage trading cards of the sports stars from his youth. 

Ken Waldrop, his business partner, told Patch that those who want to attend Tuesday's service can meet at the record store at 4148 East Ponce De Leon Avenue in Clarkston at 10 a.m. and travel from there. 

He said Bell had been diagnosed with colon cancer and was given from six to eight weeks to live. "Turns out they were pretty accurate about that." 

Speaking at the store Sunday evening, Waldrop told Patch he and Bell had discussed the future of the store, and that he will re-open it soon. Plans are underway to expand the space and make it "the best record store in Atlanta."  

He added that his friend "was happiest right here." 

Graveside service Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2013 at noon at Georgia National Cemetery, 1080 Veterans Cemetery Rd, Canton, GA. followed by an informal reception at Williamson Bros. Bar-B-Q, 1600 Marietta Highway in Canton.