Dr. William Jerry Howell

William Jerry Howell, M.D. 70, a resident of Vestavia, Alabama, departed this world on October 16, 2014, after a brief illness with cancer. Dr. Howell touched many lives through his work as a family practitioner and later on in Addiction Psychiatry. He and his twin brother Joe Howell, M.D.were born in Enterprise, Alabama on March 4, 1944. Dr. Howell graduated from the University of Alabama in 1966 and the University of Alabama @ Birmingham Medical School in 1970. He completed his residency at David Grant Medical Center at Travis Air Force Base and served a tour in Vietnam where he was awarded the Bronze Star in 1973 and was awarded the Malcolm C. Grow Air Force Flight Surgeon of the Year for the United States in 1972. After leaving the Air Force, Dr. Howell was in family practice in Prattville, Alabama, for 11 years before moving to Birmingham, Alabama to pursue a specialty in Psychiatry and Addiction Medicine at UAB. Dr. Howell was board certified in both Psychiatry and Addiction and quietly touched lives across the region in his work as a Psychiatric consultant for Bradford Health Services and medical director for American Behavioral Benefits Managers. Dr. Howell was also former chief of psychiatry for Carraway Methodist Psychiatric Center and did consult/liaison psychiatry for St. Vincent’s and UAB West Hospitals. Dr.Howell became the foremost authority on addiction in Alabama and was on Dateline NBC in 1996 in the documentary “Drug Use Among Doctors.” He was also a contributor to the book, Addiction: Mine Yours, and Ours, in 2010 by Ed Logue, M.D. and was featured in B-Metro Magazine in 2013. Dr. Howell, an avid football fan, was also known for his work with both college and professional football players. He cared for both patients and physicians and was one of the founders of the Alabama Society of Addiction and one of the founders of Alabama Physicians Network Recovery Center. He also served as President of the Birmingham Psychiatric Association for a short time due to finding out he had cancer 3 weeks ago. Dr. Howell held the following certifications: Distinguished Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association, Distinguished Fellow of the Alabama Psychiatric Association, Fellow of the American Society of Addiction Medicine, Diplomate in the Specialty of Psychiatry and Neurology, Diplomate in the Sub-Specialty of Addiction Psychiatry, Diplomate of the American Board of Addiction Medicine, Subspecialty in Addiction.

In his free time Dr. Howell mostly enjoyed spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren. Some of his most loved past times included snow skiing, hiking, fishing, and playing and coaching the Advent basketball team.

Jerry is survived by his wife of 37 years, Hon. Sybil Corley Howell. His children: Amy Howell Mathes, Destin, FL; James David McLain, Birmingham, AL; Troy Shan (Ashley) McLain, Prattville, AL; and Melissa Howell Bailey, Oxford, Pennsylvania. His grandchildren: Shan Taylor McLain, Marshall Hud Mathes, Caden Corley McLain, Hanah Lee Mathes; Alexandra Howell McLain, Benjamin Adam Bailey; Elizabeth Analiese Bailey; Vincent Parks McLain, and Meredith Kay Bailey and one great grandson, William McClain. His siblings: Dr. Joseph Frank Howell, Sue (Cecil) Wyatt, Sylvia Chaffin, James (Teresa) Corley, and John Corley.

There will be a visitation for Dr. Howell on Tuesday October 21, 2014 from 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM at Ridout’s Valley Chapel (1800 Oxmoor Road, Homewood, AL 35209) followed be a chapel at Ridout’s Valley Chapel at 10:00 AM. There will also be a visitation on Tuesday October 21, 2014 at Ridout’s Prattville Chapel ( 347 East Main Street, Prattville, AL 36067) from 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM with a chapel service at the Ridout’s Prattville Chapel at 2:30 PM. Brother Jim Graham officiating the funeral services.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to be made to St. Vincent’s Oncology Nurses Unit, 4th floor South Tower, 810 St. Vincent’s Drive, Birmingham, AL 35205.

Pallbearers: David Barthold, M.D., Ed Logue, M.D., Robert Cain, M.D., Tim Stone, M.D., Carl Shory, M.D., Jim Hall, M.D., Jerry Young, Joey Holley, Steve McCain, Gary Cranmore, Clay Corley, and Milton Broadnax.

Honorary Pallbearers: David O’Neal, Joaquin Arciniegas, M.D., Hon. John Campbell, Kaycia Vansickle M.D, Larry Greer, Rick Stembridge, Cecil Wyatt, Merrill Bradley, Mike Kelley, Jerry Gropper D.D.S., Mark Stafford, M.D., Clay Simmons, Olga Belotskovskaya, M.D., Bert Hill, Trudy Gunmar, and the 4th and 5th Grade Advent Basketball Team.

Special Thanks to:

Pearlie Harbison

Dr. Allison Daggett M.D.

Dr. Cara Bondly M.D.

Dr. Susan Salter M.D.

Dr. Connie Swillie M.D.

Dr. Adena Von Rottenthaler M.D

Laura Susan Burns J.D.

Ruth Young

Shellie Johnson

Amanda Hill

Rhonda Sparrow