Janet Marie Howard

July 14, 1947 -

November 12, 2015

Her story began on July 14, 1947 in Tulsa, Oklahoma, born to Wes and Doris Jones who attended the First Apostolic Church of Tulsa. Her Pastors were CP and Mary Williams, Visionary Apostolic people. She grew up in this church that believed and preached the miraculous power of God. During a church picnic as a child, she fell off a swing and broke her arm. The bone was visibly protruding. Pastor CP Williams placed his hand over the break, cried out the Name of Jesus, and she saw as her arm was instantly healed. Her story has always found its way back to God's provision, miraculous power, and clarity of purpose in her life. God took her to Brazil as a Missionary, to Los Angeles and Washington D.C. as church planters, and finally to Cleveland, Texas, where she fell in love with her new and wonderful church family.

In January of 1963, she met the love of her life, a new convert, at church. When she saw Franklin Howard, it was love at first sight. He wrote her every day while he served as a medic in the Vietnam War, and she wrote him several times a week. They have kept all their love letters to this day. Their journey was not an easy one, nor did they choose the easy way. But their love for one another, and their love for God's Kingdom work, carried, sustained, and led them during their 5 years of dating and 47 years of marriage. They developed and trained hundreds of pastors, Bible school students, and ministers. Two years ago, they were able to trace well over 300 churches that they have either started themselves or trained and sent someone else to start. Those churches represent thousands of people, many of which call her "mom" or "mae". She loved them all, she gave them all one of her hugs, and encouraged everyone to "keep your eyes on Jesus". One of her favorite verses was 2 Corinthians 12:15: "and I will very gladly spend and be spent for you..." she quoted it often, and even more so, she lived it every day.

She was 58 before she owned her own home, but she had already built many churches. She cared more for the people she met and for the Kingdom of God than for her own comfort. This was Janet Howard. A true Christian. A church planter from birth. A mother to all that really knew her. The kindest and most genuine person I've known. She loved deeply. She prayed hard. She cherished her family. She gave us all her heart. She gave God all of her being. Her last words to her church family of Cleveland were, "Guard your heart, keep your heart pure, and give your all to God's kingdom. Be willing to spend and be spent." She left us with words that reflected the way she lived her life.

Her husband was the love of her life. As long as she was with him, she could and would face anything. Her children never doubted her love and enjoyed the best mother in the world. Oh how she loved her grandchildren and the children in the church that called her "Nana". She made the best cookies and was simply the best cook... as her entire family will say.

Janet Howard was a proud member of the Osage Nation, American Indian Tribe. She and her sister, Patricia Moore, would often visit Oklahoma and reminisce of the stories of their ancestors.

She lived for others. She was selfless. You always left her presence feeling better. She learned to carry others burdens, she loved people and dedicated herself to serve them. God gave her a beautiful heart, she kept it that way, and blessed a world with its beauty.

She is survived by her husband, Rev. Franklin Howard, her three children and their spouses: Joel and Tonja Bryant, Kevin and Luciana Howard, and Janita Howard-Reis. Her grandchildren: Ramon and his wife Samantha, Shanna, Shane, Jessica, Igor, Sean, and Isabella. Her Sister Patricia Moore and husband Gene, and their son Marc. She leaves behind a legacy of love and commitment to God and a host of church family, all whom she loved deeply.

Rest in Peace our dear Mother.