Emma Howard

Mrs. Emma Lee (Clark) Howard of Franklinton, Louisiana was born November 7, 1930, to the late Annabelle (Magee) Nelson and Freddie Clark Sr. She is a graduate of Washington Parish High School in Louisiana. She was the first of her family to complete high school in the late 1940�s. For 64 years, she was married to the late David Howard Sr. of Tylertown Mississippi. Soon after marriage they made Gulfport, Mississippi their home. For many years, she was a cashier/waitress at Ire�s (Johnson) Pool Hall in Gulfport, a few blocks away from 33rd Avenue High School. The Pool Hall was a very popular gathering place in the community and was famous for the chili dogs, ice cream and cookies sold there. Working there, Mrs. Howard became well known in and beyond the local community (or the Quarters). Hurricane Camille destroyed the Pool Hall in 1969, leaving Mrs. Howard unemployed for a little while. Mrs. Howard also worked as a sales associate at Gayfer�s Department Store which later became Dillard�s in the Biloxi Edgewater Shopping Mall, from which she retired. Upon accepting Christ as her personal Savior, she was baptized at a very early age at Hayes Creek Baptist Church in Franklinton Louisiana. After moving to Gulfport, Mrs. Howard joined Mount Bethel Baptist Church under the leadership of the late Reverend T.B. Brown and the late Reverend W.T. Guice. She served in the Church as a Deaconess and was a member of the choir. She taught Sunday school and did missionary service under the leadership of Reverend J.C. Wilks. She remained faithfully in service until her health began to fail. Mrs. Howard moved to Jackson Mississippi in 2011 to live with her youngest daughter Belinda and her family. In Jackson, she attended Cornerstone Missionary Baptist Church, under the leadership of Reverend P.J. Williams, her son-in-law. She peacefully departed this life at her daughter's family home in Jackson on June 29, 2015 at 3:00 a.m. She was preceded in death by her husband, David Howard Sr.; son David Howard Jr.; father, Freddie Clark Sr.; mother, Annabelle (Magee) Nelson; brothers, Willie (Bud) Magee, Freddie Clark Jr., Othello and Christopher Clark; Leon (Jack), Jerome, Versie Jr. (Billy) and Robert (Chicago Bob) Nelson; sisters, Betty Young, Verlean Foster, Autherine Robinson, Emma Jean (Meanie) Boyce, Carrie (Red) Smith and Charlene Perry. Mrs. Emma is survived by her son, Bernard Howard and daughter, Carolyn Drummor of Gulfport, MS; daughter Belinda (Reverend P.J.) Williams of Jackson MS; godson, Brian (Natasha) Barkley of Gulfport, MS; brother, Earl (Pete) Nelson and sister, Willie Jean (Shug) Nelson of Los Angeles, CA; sisters, Irene Brown, Shifenia Steverson, Shell Ann Smith, Pamela Ross, Robin Clark all of Chicago, IL; Len Nell Lovett, Janeen Moore, Brenda Sibley of Jackson, MS; Gilda Clark of Palm Bay, FL; Viva and Angela Clark of Hackley, LA; Brothers Willie Jay, Ronnie, Fernando Clark of Hackley, LA; Harry Clark of Detroit, MI; Robert "Bobby", Billy, and John Clark all of Chicago, IL; a brother-in-law Kenneth (Freddie) Howard of Tylertown, MS; sister-in-law Clemmie Lee Higgins of Talluah, LA; a sister-in-law Emma Queen Howard of Tylertown, MS; five grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren and a host of nephews, nieces, cousin, in-laws, other family members and friends. Mother Emma Howard loved God, her family and church. She shared a love for all people and helped those in need when she was able. The Family wishes to extend a special thanks to the following individuals and organizations for the special attention they gave our mother: Sta-Home Health and Hospice (Jackson, MS) Aneshia Alexander (Jackson, MS) Nikki Mason (Jackson, MS) Sharon Belino (Gulfport, MS) Reverend James Shoulder (Jackson, MS) Reverend Quincy Brown (Jackson, MS) Martha Strong and Family (Gulfport, MS) Richmond-August Family Funeral Home (Biloxi, MS) **And we want to thank ALL those who has contributed to the enrichment of our Mothers life. Services will be held at 11:00 am on Friday, July 10, 2015 at Mt. Bethel Baptist Church in Gulfport, MS with visitation one hour before. The family of Mrs. Emma Howard has entrusted her care to the professional staff of RICHMOND-AUGUST FUNERAL HOME.