Belinda Howard

1952 - 2024

Belinda (Branch) Howard Winterville - Mrs. Belinda Branch Howard, 72, of Winterville, departed this life on December 29, 2024.

Funeral Services will be held at Rose Hill FWB Church, Ayden, NC on Saturday, January 4, 2025, at 12:30pm. The family will receive visitors from 10am to 12pm at Rose Hill FWB Church on Saturday, January 4, 2025. Burial will follow at Evergreen Memorial Gardens in Grifton, NC at 3:00pm.

Belinda was born in Kinston on October 23, 1952, to Jack and Doris Branch. She was a 1970 graduate of Grainger High School in Kinston and a 1974 Early Childhood Major from Methodist College/University. She began and ended her 32-year teaching career at Contentnea Elementary School in Kinston where she was Contentnea's Teacher of the Year in 1998-1999. She retired in January 2006. Belinda was a strong advocate for children and loved each one she taught. She always held a special place in her heart and was immensely proud of her students in all their accomplishments. She was a people person and shared many happy hours with friends and family.

She was married for 48 years to Robert F. Howard and had two wonderful children, a son, Kevin, and daughter, Susan. She was extremely proud of her with two grandchildren, Haley and Tyler, who were the apple of her eye.

Belinda was a wonderful, loving, and caring wife, mother, grandmother, and teacher. She loved listening to beach music and the rain, especially at her beach home. She enjoyed line dancing and shagging with her friends. She gained professional success as the owner/operator of Belinda's Veils and Tails in Kinston, NC. She loved helping young ladies feel confident and pretty. She volunteered her time with friends as Director of the Miss Grifton Shad Festival Pageant for 12 years, which gave her the chance to judge other local pageants. She became a member of the Grifton Jaycettes and later became the President for 2 years. In 1988, The Grifton Jaycees invited the ladies to join, and Belinda was the second lady to step forward and join. She was later awarded the Rookie of the Year and Chairman of the Year in 1988 from the Grifton Jaycees. She was also a member of Greenville Moose Lodge Women of the Moose, Chapter 2362 and held the office of Senior Regent in 2015. She earned her College of Regents in 2017 and was enrolled in the One Moose, Greenville Lodge, 885 in 2021.

An energetic person by nature, she touched many people with her warm personality. She had an incredibly positive outlook and was rich at heart. She will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her.

Belinda was preceded in death by her parents Jack and Doris Branch, her husband Robert F. Howard, sister-in-law Joan Howard Stroud, brother-in-law Graham Stroud, and Aunt Betty Woolard. She is survived by her son, Kevin Howard of Greenville and daughter, Susan Howard of Winterville. Grandchildren Haley and Tyler Howard of Greenville, nieces Jessica Stroud Cash (Sammy) and Lori Quinn (Clayton) of Pink Hill, Karen Boyette of Virginia, nephew Jonathan Stroud (Eve) of Pink Hill as well as Joshua Stroud, Chesney Cash, Emma Quinn, Shelby Quinn, Katie Boyette, Kyle Boyette, Aunt Sue Hunt of Maywood, NJ as well as many cousins and friends.

We would like to thank her caregivers (Ms. Mancy Best, Joy Mitchell, Cynthia Lilley, and Karen Strickland) for ensuring that Belinda was always safe and entertained. They brought enormous joy into her life. We are profoundly appreciative for their continued caring and support for our family.