Feb. 13, 1937 – Jan. 1, 2020

 

NATCHEZ — Services for the Rev. Dr. Leon Howard Sr., 82, of Natchez, who died Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020, in Jackson, will be 11 a.m. Friday at Smithland Baptist Church with the Rev. Ernest Ford Sr. officiating.  

Burial will be 10 a.m. Monday at the Natchez National Cemetery under the direction of West Gate Funeral Home.

Visitation will be from 5 to 6 p.m. today at the funeral home, with a “Celebration of Life” wake service at 6 p.m. Visitation will continue from 10 a.m. until service time Friday at the church.

Rev. Howard was born Feb. 13, 1937, the son of the Rev. Harry Howard and Cordelia Myles Howard.

He was a member of Smithland Baptist Church and was the pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church, Waterloo Baptist Church in Lorman and St. Mark Baptist Church in Port Gibson.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two sisters, Josie Lee Allen and Isabella Howard; four brothers, Alexander, Ulysee, Harry Jr., and Joseph Howard; and his first wife, Alvin Louise Howard.

Survivors include his wife, Louise Howard; three sons, Leon Howard Jr., Gregory Howard and wife, Carolyn, and Gregory Chatman and wife, Ava; four daughters, Minister Emma Woodfork and husband, Willie, Debra Washington, Brenda Conner and husband, Edward, and Lynda Howard; two stepsons, Henry “Pooh” Barnes and Trevis Barnes and wife, Melody; three brothers, Robert Howard, Ivory Howard and the Rev. D.W. Howard and wife, Carrie; three sisters, Cordelia McMorris and husband, Wayne, Jean Rankin and Emma Howard; grandchildren; sisters-in-law, Willie Bass and husband, James, Dinah Ruth Clark, Doris Webster and companion, Stewart, and Andrea Glasper and companion, Robert; brother-in-law, Gregory Johnson; and other relatives and friends.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at westgatefh.com.