Nansemond-Southampton County Virginia USGenWeb Archives Obituaries.....Howell, John R., 1942 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/va/vafiles.htm ************************************************ JOHN RIDDICK HOWELL J.R. Howell, one of our town’s most highly-esteemed citizens, died Wednesday afternoon following a brief illness. Mr. Howell was in his 91st year, and during his 51 years resident in Franklin had made a large and worth-while contribution to the growth and well-being of the town. He was born in Nansemond County May 11, 1851, the son of John Michael and Mrs. Elizabeth Howell. For 45 years he was engaged in the mercantile business of J.R. Howell & Co. Here, with his brother, the late I.E. Howell, and since retiring from business had maintained an active interest in his town, his church and the fraternal organizations with which he was affiliated. One of the most faithful and useful members of the Franklin Baptist Church, he attended all of its services regularly, as well as the Bruner Bible Class of that church, serving as deacon of the Church for many years. He was the oldest member of the Pythian fraternity, both in point of years and service, and of Franklin Lodge No. 151, A.F. and A.M. His wife, Mrs. Mollie Sumner Howell has been dead for a number of years, besides three children who grew to maturity: Mrs. Walter H. Norfleet, Dr. Carroll S. Howell and Marshall E. Howell. He is survived by two daughters, Mrs. W.H. Burchett of Suffolk and Mrs. George R. Brown of this town; by 11 grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, several nieces and nephews and a host of friends. Funeral services were held for him yesterday afternoon in the church which he had loved well and served so faithfully. Rev. B.B. Bland of the Methodist Church and Dr. Elwood W. Jones of the Christian Church assisting his pastor, Rev. R.D. Stephenson, the auditorium being crowded with friends. The church choir sang "How Firm a Foundation" and "Abide with Me," Joel Cook Holland singing as a solo "Holy Spirit, Faithful guide." Mr. Stephenson paid a most appropriate and well-merited tribute to the life led by "Uncle Jack" as he was familiarly known, holding up as worthy of all emulation and faithfulness, the fidelity and the untiring loyalty which had marked Mr. Howell’s religious and civic life and conduct for many more years than are ordinarily vouchsafed to man. Burial was made in the family plot in Poplar Spring Cemetery, the active bearers being: Ryland Camp, Dr. Ashley Cutchin, L.R. Jones, Phoebus Jones, George Parker, Harry Steinhardt, George Watkins, and Willie Weede. Honorary pallbearers who attended in a body were the members of the Bruner Bible Class and of the Masonic and Pythian fraternities. John Riddick "Jack" HOWELL, retired Franklin merchant, b. 11 May 1851, Nansemond Co., d. 11 Mar 1942, interred in Poplar Spring Cemetery (Section 2, Plot 28A*), Franklin, "The Tidewater News" (Franklin, VA), Mar. 13, 1942p. 1 *Southampton County Historical Society {SCHS} Cemetery Project, Poplar Spring list: http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/southampton/cemeteries/poplar2.txt Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Mrs. Bruce Saunders (bs4403@verizon.net), and re-formatted by File Manager. file at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/nansemond/obits/h400j6ob.txt