Martha Lucille Howard

Martha M. Howard, 95, of Arnold, Nebraska, went home to be with her Lord on December 30, 2011. She was born Martha Lucille Moffet in Ottumwa, Iowa, the youngest of five children born to Mont and Eva Moffet. She taught for almost 50 years, at all levels, from kindergarten through elementary, high school, college and graduate school, in Iowa, Kentucky and Mississippi.

She received her Bachelors degree from Kletzing College in University Park, Iowa; a Masters from the University of Iowa and an honorary Doctorate from Wesley Biblical Seminary in Jackson, Mississippi upon her retirement in 1994. After her retirement, she lived in Horse Cave, Kentucky until moving to Arnold, Nebraska in 2008. She was a member of the Horse Cave United Methodist Church.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Dr. Ivan Howard and by one grandson, Thomas Bishop. Together she and her husband were the founding first family of Wesley Biblical Seminary. She taught speech and served as bookkeeper for the seminary from its founding in 1974 until her retirement.

She is survived by a son, Jim Howard (Sharon) of Edmonton, Kentucky, a daughter, Ruth Bishop (Allen) of Arnold, Nebraska and a step-daughter, Helen Gerald (John) of Brookhaven, Mississippi; by nine grandchildren, Michael Bishop, James Bishop, Ben Bishop, Ellen Howard, Esther Drummond, Johnny Gerald, Howard Gerald, Liz McDowell and Steve Gerald; along with 11 great grandchildren and two great great grandchildren.

Visitation will begin at 9:00 a.m. on Thursday, January 5, 2012 at Wesley Biblical Seminary, 787 East Northside Drive, Jackson, Mississippi. Funeral Services will be at 1:00 at the seminary. Burial will be in the Easthaven Cemetery, Brookhaven, Mississippi, with the burial service at 4:00 p.m. Arrangements are being handled by Wright & Ferguson Funeral Home, 350 High Street, Jackson, Mississippi.

Expressions of sympathy may be made to Wesley Biblical Seminary, 787 East Northside Dr., Jackson, MS 39206.