Myrtis O. Howard

Myrtis Odell Reed Howard was the ninth of eleven children born to Alice Amelia and William Henry Reed. She was born in Humphreys County Mississippi on November 17, 1937. Her parents, husband, four sisters Annie A., Lendora L., Olija E., and Jeffrey J., three brothers, William H., General N. and Robert N. Reed and daughter Florendius O. Norris, preceded her in death. She grew up and attended school at Belzoni elementary school and McNair high school. There she met and married Floyd E. Howard, on October 2, 1954. They moved to Detroit Michigan in 1955. In 1956, they moved to Indianapolis, Indiana, there as a working mother and housewife she raised her children and continued her education. She attended and graduated with honors from Aristotle College, earning an associate degree in Allied Health Administration. She worked twelve years for Allison Coupon Company and about ten years for RCA Corp. as a warehouse employee in the records manufacturing department. She later worked for fifteen years for Value City Department Store as a clerk, retiring in June 2002. Myrtis accepted Christ at an early age and joined New Hope Missionary Baptist Church in Belzoni, Mississippi under the leadership of the Reverend Gus Williams Sr.; she later united with the Capitol Avenue Seventh Day Adventist Church in Indianapolis, Indiana, where she attended for several years. She united with the Mount Carmel Baptist Church in the late 1970’s and remained a faithful member until her passing. Myrtis had a special way with words and as a hobby, she would practice writing lyric poems and solving puzzles. She wrote a book of poems that was an inspiration to all who read it. Myrtis leaves to cherish her memory her daughter Barbara O. Ball White (Tilton) and three sons, Gregory K. Howard Sr, Floyd E. Howard Jr. and Richard E. Howard. She also has fifteen grandchildren (one deceased) and eighteen precious great grandchildren. Two sisters Tommie B. Williams, of Jacksonville North Carolina, and Laura B. Anderson, of Jackson Mississippi, a brother and beloved sister-in-law, Thomas C. and Evelyn Reed of Indianapolis Indiana, a special uncle and Aunt Johnny and Lurlean (Lola) Molett. 4 great sisters-in-law Erie Smith (Ted), Catherine Williams, both of Detroit, and Minnie Goodman-Card (Jimmie), of Jacksonville Florida, Linda Howard, and a host of nieces, nephews, relatives and friends, whom she dearly loved. Services will be live streamed at 12pm on Crown Hill Funeral Home and Cemetery Facebook Page.