Gerald D. Howell

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart, I have overcome the world." John 16:33
Having found that peace, Gerald Howell passed away quietly in the early morning hours of April 22, 2023, at his residence with his wife by his side due to complications from Parkinson's. His family is saddened by his death but celebrate his incredibly full life.
Visitation for Mr. Howell will be 5:00-8:00 p. m. Tuesday, April 25, 2023, at Hartman-Jones Funeral Home in McComb, MS. Visitation will resume Wednesday, April 26, 2023, at 10:00 a.m. followed by a funeral service at 11:00 a.m. at Johnston Chapel United Methodist Church in Summit, MS. The Revs. Jared Leonard and Dwayne Scoggins will officiate with burial to follow in Johnston Chapel cemetery.
Born in McComb, MS, on October 29, 1947, Gerald's parents, W. A. and Wadie Howell, paid a $46.80 hospital bill and took their newborn son home. Gerald grew up in Summit, MS, attending Summit Elementary. Upon consolidation with McComb schools, Gerald attended and graduated from McComb High School with the infamous Class of '65. He attended Southwest Mississippi Junior College.
Gerald learned to work at an early age. After his brother Krandall ran a paper route on his bicycle throughout Summit for a number of years, he later turned it over to Gerald who continued to do it on his moped. Supposedly the first cold, rainy, blistery day that Gerald had to deliver papers, he was "sick" so his brother had to go deliver the papers for him. Did Gerald really smile as his brother went out the door?! In addition to the paper route, Gerald also mowed many yards throughout Summit with a push mower and a can of gas. According to his brother, their father would not give them $5 but would buy them a new lawn mower every summer. As an adult, Gerald worked in the car business with his dad and brother. In 1964, they were awarded the Volkswagen dealership in McComb. Gerald started out in sales but later became the service manager.
The dealership later expanded to include Mazda, Jeep, AMC, and Renault. Upon the death of his father and his brother obtaining the Datsun dealership, Gerald became the owner of Howell Motor Co. Years later, Gerald sold the dealership and dabbled in a few other business ventures. He had the vision to open a one source supply company and thus established Pike's Peak Solutions. He worked hard for his customers in an effort to get them the products they needed at a price they could afford. Due to health reasons, Gerald retired in 2016.
Gerald was an athlete---playing baseball, football, basketball, and golf. When he was about seven years old, he made probably the best play of his baseball career. He had hit the ball and was a runner standing on 3rd base. Realizing his need to go to the restroom and the fact that the gate leading off the field was right there by him, Gerald slipped off the field, went to the restroom, came back and resumed his position on 3rd base, then scored. While he was gone, other batters were batting and scoring. Only his brother and mother noticed what had happened.
As a 12-year old, Gerald was a member of the McComb Little Boys Baseball All-Stars of 1960, having one of the top 5 highest batting averages for the 1960 season. They won the State Championship at West Point and went on to play in the LBB (now called Dixie Youth) World Series in South Boston, Virginia, where they finished tied for 2nd place. This team went on to win a second state championship in 1963 when they won the State Babe Ruth Championship. Gerald had the best batting average in that event. While attending McComb High School, Gerald played football (quarterback), baseball, and some basketball. Gerald played many rounds of golf at Lakeview Country Club in Summit as well as Fernwood Country Club in McComb. A highlight of his golfing career was the chance to attend the Masters with his friend Tommy Brock.
Gerald loved music. As a teenager, he was a guitarist and vocalist for a garage band called The Sunders. Later he played with The Jarmen, a band comprised of Gerald, Jim Hewitt, Johnny Dykes, and Phillip Williams. Roger Lawrence was their manager. They played at The Courtyard. Later, after no longer being in a band, Gerald just enjoyed sitting around with friends for hours playing the guitar and singing.
Cooking and entertaining was one of Gerald's favorite pastimes. He wasn't a simple cook. He experimented with those recipes that most people would avoid because of the number of ingredients. Not Gerald..or he would create his own recipe with a host of ingredients and name it "Gerald's Famous " One of his most special cooking experiences involved Boy Scout Troop No. 249. It was a Boy Scout Troop formed in 1994 and led by Jeanne Barkley and Virginia Pope. It was the only Boy Scout troop in MS composed entirely of boys with special needs.
The troop was sponsored by the Episcopal Church of the Mediator/Redeemer in McComb. For several years, Gerald would donate/spearhead a barbecue to raise funds to send the boys of Troop No. 249 to Camp Bratton Green in Canton, MS, an Episcopalian camp for children with special needs. Not only were the funds used for camp fees, but also to purchase clothes for the campers. Gerald became known to the scouts as "the finger lickin chicken cooker." The barbecue became a fun-filled event for many. Gerald had friends from Baton Rouge who came to help him cook. He thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it!
Gerald grew up in a Christian home. Throughout his entire life, Gerald loved Jesus! At age 5, he stood on the pulpit at First Baptist Church in Summit where he proudly sang "Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus." Later he was baptized, accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior, and became a member of the church. In adulthood, Gerald transferred his letter to First Baptist Church in McComb where he was a part of the choir for many years. He later transferred his letter to Johnston Chapel United Methodist Church where his wife is a member.
Gerald loved meeting new people. He had no shortage of friends. He never went anywhere that he didn't know someone already or make a new friend. Longtime friend Barbara Mercier said, "Gerald was kind and always one that accepted people wherever they were. It did not matter who you were or what you had, he was always kind." Good guy, good friend, good teammate---all words that describe Gerald Howell.
Mr. Howell was preceded in death by his parents, his father and mother-in-law Farrell and Mozelle Woodall, his son Monty Howell, his brothers-in law George Lott, Ted Woodall, and Joe Jackson; also sister-in-law Bridgette Jackson.
Left to cherish many wonderful memories are his wife of 39 years Yvonne Howell; daughter and son-in-law Allison and Tim Strickland; son Tyler Howell; grandson Alex and Amber Hubbard; brother and sister-in-law Krandall and Winnie Len Howell. Other survivors include sisters-in-law Yvette Lott and Jeanie Woodall and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Pallbearers will be Tyler Howell, Dusty Lott, David Fischer, Steven Furr, Chris Smith, and Sam Marsalis.