Thelma Lucille Howard

Thelma Lucille Burkholder Howard of Palmetto, passed away on June 29, 2024, at the age of 87. Prior to moving into her daughter’s home in Palmetto seven years ago she lived many years in the Marietta, Kennesaw, and Acworth areas. She was born on August 12, 1936, in Detroit, MI. Thelma was preceded in death by her husband of 63 years, Roy Richard Howard, in 2013.

After spending her entire adult life working at various jobs, she retired from Southern Company Services after 30 years of service and spent her retirement years helping to raise her grandchildren and then taking care of her husband through his illness before she became ill and needed assistance of her own.

Thelma believed in supporting her community and she was active in the International Order of Eastern Star for over 60 years serving in many capacities within that organization over that time. She believed in GOD and loved Jesus fiercely. Throughout her entire life Thelma studied the word of GOD and even in her last days and despite her illness she could recite favorite Bible verses and sing gospel songs accompanied by her favorite visitor, Kenneth Brown, the chaplain from the Amedisys Hospice group.

Thelma’s remaining family includes three daughters: Janice Howard of Acworth, Helen Prater (Mark) of Palmetto, and Carolyn Allen of Tucson, Arizona; four granddaughters: Telisa Harnage (Stephen), Alex Allen, Leah East (Jamie), and Marlena Allen; eleven great-grandchildren: Lily Harnage, Andrew Harnage, Eli Harnage, Dallas Silva, Zachary Huelett, Tony Prater, Levi Allen, Katherine Spicker, Walker Bailey, Paisley Bailey, Zoey Silva; and three great-great-grandchildren: Sven Spicker, Eugene Harnage, and Ivan Spicker. Several nieces and nephews, especially two “special-double” nephews: William Howard (Lisa) and Bruce Howard (Jacqui).

A visitation in honor of Thelma will be held on Friday, July 5, 2024, from 3:00 pm until 7:00 pm at Parrott Funeral Home in Fairburn, GA. A graveside service will be conducted on Saturday, July 6, 2024 at 11:00 am at Kennesaw Memorial Park in Marietta, GA.

Thelma’s family wishes to say a special thank you to the Amedisys Hospice Group for the diligent and wonderful care they provided to her over the last 3½ years. Elizabeth, Suzanne, Kenneth, Elizabeth (CNA), Nicole, Heather, Melissa, Holly, Brenda, Damond, and many others too numerous to name were all dedicated to her care and they all got to experience the funny quips and responses she came out with and the most famous one was when asked how she was feeling, she always responded, “with my hands.”

Thelma will surely be missed, but we are all happy that we know where she is and that she is now reunited with the others who have gone before her.