Harriett L. Howard

Chief Petty Officer HarriettLavinia Howard- Age 89, of Smyrna, TN, passed away on Monday, the 26th of August 2013. Born in Chattanooga, TN on the 19th of February 1924 to the late Alfred Mann Howard, Sr. and LouiseYater Howard Barnes where she grew up with her brother, Naval Captain Alfred Mann Howard, Jr. (deceased) and sister, Mary HowardHibbett in Nashville, TN and received her education within the Metro Nashville Public School System, graduating from Central High School in 1941 as a National Honor Society member. Immediately after high school, she gained employment with the Southern Railroad Company, before subsequently enlisting in the U.S. Navy Women's Reserve (WAVES) three years later in 1944. The length of her civilian employment, which spanned 33 years, and her concurrent military service that spanned 39 years, was made possible by her employer's military-leave policy during active-duty periods. Paralleling her service in to her military career was also her dedication to her civilian duties working in the Railway Company. She spent the beginning of her career working in the accounting department in Nashville before being transferred to Louisville, KY where she resided for over 20 years and served as Staff Assistant to the Vice President of Intermodal Traffic before retiring from the L&N Railroad. During her naval career, she was the recipient of numerous awards and commendations, which included the Commander Navy Recruiting Command Gold Wreath with 13 stars for recruiting excellence, two Navy Commendations medals, and a World War II medal, among many others. Retiring from the U.S. Naval Reserve at the age of 60 allowed her more time to invest in opportunities for advocacy work for the support of veterans.During her retirement, she was again active in pursuing volunteer, administrative and consultative positions within local and national organizations.Her efforts were recognized among many organizational and professional circlesas she wasawarded several prestigious recognitions, awards, and commendationsfor her advocacy endeavors. Another noteworthy accomplishment in 1992 was her reaching out to Tennessee’s State Governor at that time in requesting the 98th General Assembly to donate $20,000 to the Women’s Memorial in Washington, D.C. to honor the 20,000 plus women veterans in TN. Then from August 1994 through June 1999, she served as a member of the Board of Directors of the World War II Memorial Trust as secretary-treasurer accounting for over $1.5 million in contributions directed towards the construction of this memorial. As most of her life’s journey was spent in military service, she had a special interest in seeing the dedication of the World War II Memorial and the Women in Military Service in America (WIMSA) Memorial in Washington D.C. In May 2006, the Department of Veterans Affairs Voluntary Service (VAVS) National Advisory Committee selected Harriett out of 94,000 active volunteers throughout the VA System of 154 facilities as the Female Volunteer of Year 2005. Her life of dedication and service to country and community before and after retirement was and is remarkable and will forever be held in high regard to the many lives her life and contributions touched. Over the last few years she was very active in fund raising for the soon to be opened Fisher House of Tennessee located in Murfreesboro. She is survived by her sister, Mary Hibbett; one nephew; five nieces; eight great-nephews; and one great-niece and one great great nephew. A memorial service will be held in her honor at one o’clock in the afternoon on Wednesday, the 11th of September 2013 at Woodlawn’s Dignity Hall. Visitation will be two hours prior to the service. In lieu of customary remembrances, the family requests that donations be directed to the TN Fisher House Foundation, Inc., P.O. Box 774, Brentwood, TN 37204-0774. Woodlawn Roesch-Patton Funeral Home, 660 Thompson Lane, Nashville, TN 37204, 615-383-4754.