Jackie Leon Howard

On July 11, 1950 Jackie Leon Howard was born to Louis Howard & Albertha Howard in Orlando, Fl. After he graduated from Jones High School in Orlando, Fl., he & some of his besties joined different branches of the military; Jackie joined the U.S. Air Force. His basic training was at Lackland AFB in San Antonio, Texas. He attended & finished Tech School at Chanute AFB in Champagne, Il., as a Fuel System Mechanic. Jackie then received orders to March AFB in Riverside, Ca. in order to work on the new F1-11 Fighter Jets. While there he met & married Brenda Jefferson. Jackie received orders to Upper Heyford AFB in Oxfordshire, England. Their first child, Farrell Rama Howard was born. After two years in England, Jackie received orders to Nellis AFB in Las Vegas, Nv. After serving 4 years in the Air Force Jackie & Brenda decided to call Las Vegas home & there they birthed second child, Nicole Vonee Howard.

For those of you that know Jackie, he is a true warrior. He was a competitor in all aspects of life; on the basketball court, on the golf course, at work closing deals, playing bid whist with friends & family or just playing a "friendly" game of Mexican Train Dominoes with his soulmate. Words cannot express how much Jackie is admired & loved. Everyone that met him was drawn to him. He had an energy about him that just made you want to be in his presence. Whether you needed advice, guidance or just a listening ear, Jackie was there. He always shared his knowledge & you never left his presence empty handed. Jackie had an upbeat & positive personality that could lift your spirits even when you were feeling your worst. And that voice…. what a soulful, soothing sound. What a gift from God. What a blessing he was to many.

Jackie was a man of great faith. He attended Faith Bible Institute for three years & obtained a degree in Theology. Jackie was a Deacon & member of Progressive Pilgrim Baptist Church in Las Vegas, Nv. under the leadership of Pastor Edward Cooper. He was presently attending Remnant Ministries in Las Vegas, Nv. under the leadership of Pastor Randall Cunningham.

Jackie had been with Johnson Controls (JCI) family for 20 years, holding several impactful roles including District General Manager, Regional Sales Manager & most recently, Las Vegas Market Director. Jackie is a highly respected member of the Las Vegas Construction community. He was nicknamed “The Mayor”, due to his infectious & charismatic personality. His competitive nature & strong business relationships helped JCI win several Skyline projects in Las Vegas. One of his most recent successes included the NFL’s Las Vegas Raiders. Jackie led a multi-domain sales team to win a $6M Fire & Security opportunity at the new Allegiant Stadium. He further deepened his relationship with the Las Vegas Raiders Construction Team & won a $9M contract for the Raiders Practice Facility. He was a strong advocate for diversity in the workforce & a mentor who helped shape several careers in the construction industry.

Left to cherish his memory is his loving Queen Brenda of 50 plus years, his children Farrell (Esmeralda) & Nicole, along with his sister, Dorothy Thompson (Stone Mountain, Ga.) & his brother, Louis Andre Howard (Orlando, Fl.). Also, left to cherish his memory are his five grandchildren: Farrell Alberto Rama Howard (Cassey), Miranda Hailey Howard, Eva Day Howard, Violet Grace Howard & Talmaus Ewell IV “Lil Tee” (Lisa). He also had four great grandchildren: Yahaira “YaYa” Velez, Noah King Hickman, Rama Howard & Violet Love Ewell. Jackie also leaves behind a host of nieces, nephews & cousins. He was much more than an Uncle to his nephew, Keith Thompson; he was a big brother, a role model & a mentor.

Along Jackie’s life journey, his friends became his family. His friend, Tom “Doug” Lambert, became his brother. Jackie was preceded in death by his loving parents: Louis Howard & Albertha Howard & by his three brothers: David Williams, Joe Nathan Williams & J.L (Johnny Louis) Bryant.