Sam Bell coached portions of five decades at Harnett Central.

The life of former Harnett Central track and field coach Sam Bell will be celebrated on Sunday (Sept. 23) at 2 p.m. at the Cape Fear Conference A headquarters in the Riverside community adjacent to Erwin.

Bell coached track at Central for 33 years. He later assisted track programs at Central and Triton.

Bell assisted in football for 29 years at Central.

He had been hospitalized with a stroke in July.

Bell was 65 years of age at his passing.

Numerous former track standouts have credited Bell with providing positive direction in their lives.

He died on Sept. 7. Services were delayed due to conditions caused by Hurricane Florence.