Isabelle "Belle" Collins Cadden

Isabelle “Belle” Cadden, 103, passed away on Friday, December 5, 2025.

Belle was born in 1922 in Candler County, GA to the late Marian and Maggie Lanier Collins. In the small community of Metter, she began school at age 4, where older sister Beulah and brother Coy were teachers. After graduation, she moved to Aiken where her sister had relocated and began working for United Merchants manufacturing mill as a weaving instructor. It was there that she met the handsome Marvin Cadden who fixed the looms. She married him at age 20, and soon she and Marvin began playing rhythm guitar in the Florence Carter Band. They raised their four children and attended Bethel Baptist Church, until they moved across town and joined Memorial Baptist Church, where she was a member for 56 years.

Eventually, Belle became the first female supervisor at United Merchants. While she supervised, she also sold real estate with Simon Realty. After retirement, Belle volunteered at the Red Cross, and she visited people she knew in the nursing home weekly - bringing them freshly baked goodies - until she was 95. She walked five miles a day until she was 85, and then three miles daily until age 91. She was an avid angler, and she and her son Marvin shared delicious vegetables from their bountiful garden with friends and family. Not intimidated by technology, she maintained many relationships with frequent comments on Facebook!

She is survived by her daughter Judy C. Morton and her son Marvin Cadden, Jr.; grandchildren Wes Cadden, Nick Cadden Busby (Beth), Heath Cadden, John F. Morton (Stephanie), Troy L. Cadden, Jr., Kimberly L. Cadden, and Terry Cadden; nephew Jesse Harris (Melissa); 18 great grandchildren, 6 great great grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her first husband Marvin Cadden, Sr., second husband Tom Collins, sons Troy Cadden and Faron Cadden, and 14 siblings.

A graveside service will be held at 2:00 PM on Monday, December 8, 2025 at Aiken Memorial Gardens with the reverend Brancie Stephens officiating.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Memorial Baptist Church.

Shellhouse Funeral Home, Inc., 924 Hayne Ave., Aiken, SC