Verna Yvonne Welch Byers Howard

Verna Yvonne Welch Byers Howard Verna Yvonne Welch Byers Howard, age 64 years young, of Tallahassee, Florida, passed away on August 14, 2009 in the early morning hours at the Big Bend Hospice Center, from complications due to a pulmonary embolism. Yvonne was born on January 17, 1945 in San Turce, Puerto Rico to Yvonne Emilie Rose Sparks Welch and Vernon Winfield Welch, who both predeceased her. Yvonne was a lifelong resident of the Virgin Islands, her mother's ancestral home, but moved to Tallahassee in the late 1970's having become first a real estate agent and then a well-respected real estate broker. Her passion in the real estate community was in helping first time home buyers. Yvonne's maternal grandfather, P.W. Sparks, was commissioned by the Department of the Navy to design the territorial flag for the United States Virgin Islands upon its purchase from the nation of Denmark. P.W. Sparks' wife, and Yvonne's grandmother, Grace Itah Joseph Sparks, along with her sister, Blanche Joseph Sparks, then sewed the first flag for use by that new territorial government. The flag's design has not been altered since and it still flies over the United States Virgin Islands today. Yvonne was predeceased by both of her parents, her cherished grandparents, her friend and great-aunt Blanche Sasso, as well as her loving aunt, Cleone Petz. Yvonne is survived by her beloved: Jennings D. (Sonny) Howard; her devoted daughters: Lisa Dawn Howard (her daughter, Hannah Grace Brown), and Elizabeth Howard Miller (her children: Christopher Miller, Brandon Miller and Emilie Miller) as well as her husband: William Miller, her faithful sister: Cynthia Gray Barber (her son, Joshua Barber), as well as her husband: David Barber, and her loyal maternal aunts: Grace Dutil, Corinne Lockhart, Ethel Lloyd, as well as her newfound, paternal aunt Mary Kennedy, her many close cousins, especially Dale Garee, Leah Sasso McAllister, and Catherine Lockhart Mills, who were her companions in youth. Viewing and visitation with the family will be held at Culley's MeadowWood Chapel 1737 Riggins Road (850-877- 8191) on 5 to 7 p.m. EDT Tuesday August 18, 2009. Funeral services will be held at St. Louis Catholic Church 3640 Fred George Road on Wednesday August 19,2009 at 2 p.m. EST, with Father Kevin Johnson officiating. Burial will follow at Tallahassee Memory Gardens. Donations may be made to Big Bend Hospice 1723 Mahan Center Blvd., Tallahassee FL 32308.