Minnie Howard

HOWARD, Ms. Minnie L. - Age 86, passed away Friday, July 1, 2011 at Kith Haven Nursing Home. Family hour 10 a.m. Friday, July 8, 2011 at St. George Beth-El C.O.G.I.C., 3801 M.L. King Ave., with funeral service commencing at 11 a.m. Eld. George Kiel officiating. Friends and pallbearers will assemble at the church 10 a.m. Friday, Ms. Howard will lie in state in the Sanctuary of St. George Beth-El C.O.G.I.C., and may be viewed Friday during family hour only. Mother Minnie L. Howard was born on June 27, 1925 in Union City, Mississippi, the only child of Irene and Wesley Vanzant. She came to Flint, Michigan in 1945. She received the Baptism of the Holy Ghost under the leadership of her late Pastor, Bishop A.G. Burrell, and became a member of St. George Beth-el C.O.G.I.C. in 1978. Under his ministry she not only worked faithfully on the Usher Board, and later became the Usher Board President, she also worked whole heartedly with the dinner project, helping with the preparation of the dinners as well as the clean-up; she supported the church in every effort that went forth and had her own fund-raiser selling candy year round. She was known as the “Candy Lady” to many of the children during that time. Mother Howard loved the church and in her younger days would get on the bus just to come and dust, clean the windows, and help keep the bathrooms clean. She also participated in the monthly shut-ins whenever they were scheduled and she loved Bishop and Mother Burrell very much. Mother Howard was always ready to go to the services whether it was the District, State, or the local church. She loved good singing and praising the Lord, one of her favorite songs was “At the Cross.” Mother Howard was very independent and would get on the bus in a heartbeat to do whatever she needed to do, shopping, going to appointments, and keeping up with all the new stores that opened. She loved going to Meijer, VG”s, Genesee Valley Mall, Great Lakes Crossing in Auburn Hills, and had a keen eye for fashion and beautiful home décor. Her favorite restaurant was Fire Mountain and she really loved BBQ ribs, greens, cornbread, and fried okra from Church’s Chicken. A stash of potato chips, skins, cookies and other snacks were always in her kitchen as well. She just loved to eat and in her latter days her favorite drink was Boost. She’d request it three or four times daily. Mother Howard loved her family, especially her grandchildren. She was interested in everyone’s accomplishments, and concerned for the well-being of each and every one. Mother Howard also loved the families in the church and was always eager to go to the special occasions for them as well, such as weddings, graduation parties and retirement dinners. She enjoyed having fun and even invented the “marshmallow fight” in the family, which is still a favorite game today. Mother Howard continued as a faithful servant at St. George Beth-el under the leadership of Pastor George Kiel after the demise of Bishop Burrell, ushering even when her health was failing. But she kept her faith in God until He called her home. She was diligent about making sure everyone had their church bulletins and offering envelopes, and many times would put her walker aside and go into the church office and ask for them if they weren’t handed to her first. She always kept extra envelopes in her bag that she carried, and she was always prepared to give those out as well. Mother Howard believed in giving, and supported the church to the best of her ability. She truly believed the scripture Revelation 2:10, “Be thou faithful until death, and I will give thee a crown of life.” When she didn’t feel good, she would always say, “I want to go while I still can.” Mother Minnie L. Howard leaves behind 7 children, 2 sons, Stafford Howard, Sr. of Flint and Jeffery Howard of Woodbridge, VA; 5 daughters, Mayrene (Doug) McGruder of Flint Twp., Carolyn (John) January of Davison, MI, Karen (Steve) Coleman of Defiance, OH, LaJoyce Howard and Vanessa Ellis, both of Flint; 16 grandchildren; 21 great grandchildren; cousins and her St. George Beth-el church family. Mother Howard was preceded in death by her granddaughter, Sabrina Spencer; parents, Irene and Wesley Vanzant; grandparents, Robert Vanzant and Cora Barker; daughter-in-law, Charlotte Howard; and many other relatives. The family would like to extend a special thanks to Sis. Tasha Richards, Sis. Wendy Richards, Sis. Pauline Jenkins, Mother Mildred Swanigan, Mother Nellie Webb, Mother and Elder James Bowie, Sr., Pastor George Kiel, Mother Burrell the entire St. George Beth-el family, Agape Faith Fellowship Church, Holiness Tabernacle C.O.G.I.C., Faith in the Word of God Ministries, the staff of Kith Haven, especially Sis. Dana Alexander, Avalon Hospice, especially to Tammy her nurse, and to Becky and Eileen (nurse aides) and so many others too numerous to name, for your calls, cards, food, visits, support, love and your presence here today. We love all of you. Be blessed.

Minnie Howard

June 27, 1925 - July 1, 2011