Marietta P. Howington

She was born Aug. 14, 1920, in Hollis, N.C., the daughter of Lacy Cleveland Price and Fannie Hamrick Price. After graduating as valedictorian of her high school, she attended Boiling Springs Junior College (now Gardner-Webb University), where she also was class valedictorian. She later graduated from Meredith College before enrolling in Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, receiving a master’s degree in religious education.

In 1942 she married Nolan P. Howington, a Southern Baptist minister, and they enjoyed an unusually devoted marriage for 70 years, living in North Carolina, Tennessee, Arkansas and Kentucky. A lifelong Christian, Marietta taught Sunday School for 73 years beginning at age 14, and for decades wrote numerous church training materials for children. She also taught school for many years, including at the Tennessee School for the Blind.

Marietta loved to serve others and her life embodied practicality, frugality, charity and rectitude. Marietta was a loving mother to her sons and a doting grandmother. She was also an avid gardener.

Marietta is survived by her husband, Nolan; sons Richard (Jean) of Winston-Salem, N.C., Pat (Sue) of Louisville and John (Jane) of Newport, R.I.; grandchildren Jeff, Jessica, Joshua and a sister, Julia Price Howington (Horace) of Plymouth, N.C.

A Celebration of Life Service will be conducted at 2 p.m. Friday in the Arch L. Heady at Resthaven Chapel, 4400 Bardstown Road, with visitation held Friday, 12 noon until service time. Interment will be at Resthaven Memorial Park.

Expressions of sympathy may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association or to Hickory Hollow Baptist Church in Antioch, Tenn.

Please visit us online at www.archlheadyresthaven.com