Ozella Taylor Howard

HOWARD, Ozella Taylor. An era has passed, for the Taylor and Howard families, with the ending of the earthly life of Ozella Taylor Howard on April 19, 2011. "I have lived a happy and wonderful life," she remarked one afternoon in the golden years of her life. Ozella was born on August 24, 1920 in Richlands, North Carolina. She was the twelfth child born into the family of Alonzo Isaac Taylor and Ettie Louinia Thompson Taylor. As the youngest child, she was loved and cherished by her siblings throughout her life. She was married for 59 years to her devoted husband, Marvin Eddie Howard, until his death in 1996. Four children were born to their family, and she was predeceased by her son, Adrian Leo Howard; and her daughter, Frances Ann Mock. She also was predeceased by 11 siblings and their mates. She is survived by her half-sister, Juanita Taylor Canady of Richlands, North Carolina; as well as nieces and nephews numbering in the hundreds. Remaining family members are her daughter, Martha Howard Narron and her husband, Joffre Vincent Narron, of Richmond, and also Jerry Howard Kennedy and her husband, Rashie Kennedy Jr., of Columbia, South Carolina; also a daughter-in-law, Rose Marie Howard of Crozier, Virginia; and son-in-law, Harry Robert Mock III of Westminster, Maryland. Ozella gave selflessly through the years in community and church efforts and frequently extended hospitality to Christian missionaries making visits to the Richmond area. She enjoyed her long rows of beautiful flowers with which she made lovely arrangements which adorned the altar of her church, and her strong alto voice was familiar in musical ensembles. Her overwhelming joy in life was her family which included 12 grandchildren, 10 grandchildren-in-law, 20 great-grandchildren, two great grandchildren-in-law and one great-great-grandchild. Her "grandmother" gift was so strong that each grandchild was convinced he or she was her "favorite." They were right. Each child WAS her favorite. She was a matriarch in faith and an encourager to many people, especially among her church family, where she served in countless ways through the years in Weatherford Memorial Baptist Church and later in First Free Will Baptist Church of Richmond. She lives on, in the fond memories of many...but especially in the heart of her "favorite grandchild" ....each and every one of them! A celebration of life service will be held at First Free Will Baptist Church on Saturday, April 23, at 10 a.m. Friends are welcome to visit with the family from 6 to 9 p.m. at the West Chapel of Bennett Funeral Home in Richmond on Friday, April 22. Remembering her love of beauty and flowers, those wishing to honor her memory may choose to make a gift to the altar guild of First Free Will Baptist Church.


This obituary was originally published in the Richmond Times-Dispatch.