REV. AMAZIAH HOWELL JR.
May 1, 1922-Sept. 28, 2016
The Rev. Amaziah Howell Jr. did all he could. He fought the good fight. And now, he has gone home.
Devoted husband, father, brother and grandfather, and a great friend and role model and mentor to many families, passed away peacefully Wednesday evening, Sept. 28, in his home in Goldsboro, N.C.
He lived for 94 glorious years praising God every day.
Predeceased by his childhood sweetheart and loving wife of 67 years, Theresa Reid Howell, he is survived by his three children, Marian Elizabeth Howell, Amaziah Howell III and Theresa Ann Williams; daughter-in-law, Vanessa Howell; son-in-law, Ted Williams; grandchildren, Tiffany Howell, Darryl Williams, Terri Williams, Donald Anthony Williams, Daniel Amaziah Williams, Joy Elizabeth Sweet (Jae), Aimee Denise Edwards (Jarod), Christina Lowery and Cory Lowery; great-grandchildren, Isaiah Sweet, Jessica Sweet, Jasmine Sweet, Adam Amaziah Edwards, Austin Edwards and Dominic Scardino; sister, Julia Pate; three sisters-in-law, the Rev. Temple Howell, Annie Doris Smith and Rosa Reid; and a multitude of nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.
He was a kind and decent man, who was strong, courageous, unselfish, dedicated and principled.
He heroically served our country on D-Day and the European Theater in World War II.
After he returned home from the Army, he became the first black police officer in Goldsboro, who, along with his partner, Jacob Musgrave, patrolled Little Washington and James Street. He served on the force for 10 years, and then he was selected as the first black deputy sheriff in Wayne County. He also was elected president of the North Carolina Black (Colored) Police Officers Association.
He devoted much of his time to helping wayward kids stay in school and encouraging them to participate in positive and constructive programs at the E.A. House Boys Club on West Elm Street.
He was a faithful and longtime member of Barnes Chapel Church in the Rosewood community in Wayne County, serving as steward and deacon.
In 1972, he answered the calling, and entered the ministry. He pastored two churches in Ohio, Lakeside Baptist Church in Cleveland and Mount Olive Baptist Church in Dennison, before moving back to North Carolina in September 2001 to dedicate himself to caring for his wife, Theresa Reid Howell. After she passed in 2010, he continued his service at Barnes Chapel Church.
The celebration of his life will be held Saturday, Oct. 8, 2016, at 11 a.m. at Barnes Chapel Missionary Baptist Church, 1108 Rosewood Road, Goldsboro, N.C. He will be laid to rest at Evergreen Memorial Cemetery, 3888 U.S. 70, Princeton, N.C., with military honors.
There will be a visitation held Friday, Oct. 7, 2016, from 3 to 7 p.m., with the Howell family arriving to receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m., at J.B. Rhodes Funeral Home and Cremations Inc., Goldsboro, N.C. At 6 p.m., there will be a time of reflection with a prayer and open expressions.
He leaves behind cherished memories and an amazing legacy.
For your kind consideration, in response to numerous requests, memorial contributions in honor of the Rev. Amaziah Howell Jr. may be mailed to any one of these programs/funds: WAGES Meals on Wheels or Senior Companion Program, attn: Margaret Davis, 601 Royall Ave., Goldsboro, N.C., 27534; Community Home Health Hospice, attn: The Rev. Allen Strickland, 2309 Wayne Memorial Drive, Goldsboro, N.C., 27534; Cures for the Colors, Southeastern Cancer Care, attn: Lee Parrish, 203 Cox Blvd., Goldsboro, N.C., 27534; or Barnes Missionary Baptist Church, attn: Jimmy Ford, 1108 Rosewood Road, Goldsboro, N.C., 27530 (Rosewood).
(Pd)
Published in Obituaries on October 6, 2016 9:57 AM