Don Howell Sr.

Don Nelms Howell, 94, of Lawrenceville, GA went to be with the Lord on February 5, 2021. He will be remembered as a loving, faithful husband, supportive father and generous grandfather, as well as one who sought to bring the gospel of Christ to those he came to know.

Don was born on February 3, 1927 in Atlanta, GA as the youngest son of Newton Alfred Howell and Flora India Nelms. He graduated from Greenville High School in 1944, where he was the South Carolina state doubles champion in tennis. He attended Clemson University his freshman year before joining the Navy to serve in W.W. II. After the war, Don transferred to Georgia Tech, studying Mechanical Engineering and graduated in 1950. While at Tech, he met Barbara Nunn and they were married October 22, 1949.

Don first went to work for Georgia Power and after five years, formed Attaway and Howell with Julian Attaway, his college classmate and fraternity brother. Later they founded Miscellaneous Manufacturing Corporation located in Tucker, GA. They expanded their business by purchasing Bruce Engineering in 1965. Don became the president and sole owner of Bruce Wall Systems in 1985 where he remained until his retirement in 2002.

His next focus became the establishment of Christian Learning Centers in the greater Atlanta area. Social Circle CLC, Walton Co. CLC and various schools in Gwinnett Co. including Shiloh High, Parkview High and Brookwood High were all CLC’s established through Don’s determined efforts alongside dedicated believers in the communities that fed into those schools. These CLC’s continue to teach the gospel of Jesus Christ to public school students who earn high school credit for these voluntary courses.

Don’s final focus became his dear wife, Barbara, as she descended into the clutches of Alzheimer’s. He was the sacrificial caregiver during her final years of life. His devoted service ended the day after her homegoing when he tested positive for Covid and was hospitalized. Don was a man of great energy and singlemindedness who gave his all for the Lord who called him home as a “good and faithful servant.”

Don is predeceased by Barbara, his wife of 71 years and a brother, N.A. Howell. He is survived by a son, Don Jr. (Melissa) and two daughters Robin Howell Hudson (Beau) and Jennifer Howell Harding (Michael); six grandchildren: Michelle Howell Dobbie (Will), Eric Howell (Jill), Rachel Harding Klaus (Ben), Rebecca Harding Meyer (Mark), Maaike Harding Kahn (David), and Luke Harding (Sara); and seventeen great-grandchildren.