A crown and a calling: Weissinger, Bell reflect Delta tradition of service

A Leland native whose tennis roots trace back to Deer Creek courts in the late 1960s was crowned King Friday, Feb. 20, at the Junior Auxiliary of Greenville’s 2026 Charity Ball.

James “Jamie” Bell III, born and raised in Leland, was honored alongside Queen Martha Weissinger during the annual coronation ceremony held at the Greenville Golf and Country Club. The presentation included members of the royal court, comprised of school-aged sons and daughters of lifetime Junior Auxiliary members.

For readers in Leland, Bell’s story begins at home.

Born in Washington County in 1957 to James Oscar Bell II and Maie Pope Sherrod Bell, Bell grew up immersed in Delta life and sport. A graduate of Leland Academy, he first developed his love for tennis at Deer Creek Town & Racquet Club. That early passion would grow into a 45-year professional career in the sport.

Bell played collegiate tennis at Mississippi Delta Community College, finishing runner-up in the junior college state championship in 1976 and 1977, and later competed at Mississippi State University. His career path took him to John Newcombe’s Tennis Ranch, where he advanced from teaching professional to co-owner and academy director before returning home to Mississippi.

Since 2002, Bell has served as Head Pro, Tennis Director and General Manager of the Greenville Golf and Country Club, where he has overseen significant court renovations and helped grow regional tennis participation. Over the decades, he has mentored hundreds of junior and adult players, organized tournaments supporting charitable causes and contributed tennis columns to regional publications.

Among his honors are Mississippi Tennis Association Pro of the Year (twice), U.S. Professional Tennis Association Pro of the Year and induction into the Mississippi Tennis Foundation Hall of Fame in 2019.

Bell remains active in church and community life. A longtime member of Leland Presbyterian Church, he has served as an elder, choir member and Sunday school teacher. He has coached Washington School tennis for more than 35 years and serves on the board of the Washington County Scholarship Classic.

He and his wife, Marla Sharp Bell — a lifetime Junior Auxiliary member and past president — have four children and six grandchildren.

While Bell’s roots run through Leland, Queen Martha Weissinger’s story is equally woven into Greenville’s civic fabric.

A Greenville native born Nov. 13, 1958, Weissinger is a longtime educator, Master Gardener and community volunteer whose service spans decades. She taught for 24 years before pursuing creative and horticultural work, including earning certification as a Master Gardener and serving as a horticulture judge for the Garden Club of America.

Her leadership has extended to the Greenville Flower Show, St. James Episcopal Church, Washington School, and numerous civic organizations including the Greenville Garden Club, Junior Woman’s Club, Delta Children’s Museum and King’s Daughters and Sons Circle No. 2.

During her service with Junior Auxiliary, Weissinger chaired decorations for the Charity Ball and led the Amblyopia Project, coordinating vision screenings for Greenville first graders.

Together, Weissinger and Bell reflect a shared Delta tradition: lives shaped by church, school, sport and sustained community involvement.
The annual Junior Auxiliary Charity Ball supports programs benefiting children and families across Washington County. Each year’s King and Queen are selected in recognition of their enduring contributions to the region.

For Leland readers, this year’s coronation carries a familiar thread — a reminder that hometown beginnings often echo far beyond city limits.
In the Delta, where roots tend to run deep and service is often quiet rather than showy, the night was less about crowns and more about continuity — another chapter in a long story of people who stay, serve and shape the place they call home.

For more information about the Junior Auxiliary of Greenville, visit jagreenville.org.