Rev. Yadon Nelson Howard

Rev. Yadon Nelson Howard, 93, formerly of New Tazewell, TN, was born April 20, 1920, and went home to be with the Lord peacefully and courageously on March 22, 2014. He was preceded in death by his parents, Conley and Artie Howard, sisters Aideen (infant) and Ezelle (Hamblin), and brother Vondon (infant), as well as his beloved bride of nearly sixty-six years, Thelma (Meyers) Howard. He is survived by a daughter and son-in-law, Brenda and Lee Simmons of Virginia Beach, Virginia, and a son and daughter-in-law, Dennis and Vicki Howard of Viera, Florida. His beloved grandchildren, Gregory Simmons, Rhonda Johnson, Jodie Cline, and Krystle Hubble, along with eight great grandchildren, Jason, Nicholas, Ray Allen, Eric Mason, Christopher, Andrew, LeAnn, and Hannah, and one great-great granddaughter, Alexis, will also miss him dearly.

On December 7, 1941, immediately after hearing of the attack on Pearl Harbor, Yadon committed his life to Christ. He served in the United States Army during World War II, seeing action in France and Germany. Upon his return to the states, he accepted the call to ministry and was ordained at Head of Barren Missionary Baptist Church on August 9, 1949. In nearly fifty years of active ministry, he pastored twelve churches in Tennessee and Michigan.

Eternity alone will reveal the thousands of individuals that were influenced by the preaching, encouragement, equipping and leading of Rev. Howard. His passing does not end his ministry…it will continue to live on through the lives of those who knew him.

A time of visitation will be held at the Midway Baptist Church in New Tazewell on Friday, March 28, from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm, followed by a Celebration of Life at 7:00 pm, with Rev. Ronnie Pressnell and Rev. Dallas Harrell officiating. Arrangements provided by Coffey Funeral Home in Tazewell. In lieu of flowers, donations are encouraged to VITAS Hospice or Sentara Hampton Roads.