William "Bill" Howard
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William L. "Bill" Howard, age 84, died at his home Monday morning, March 29th, 2021, after a brief bout with cancer. Born and raised on the family farm, he graduated from Dearing High Schoolin 1954. He graduated from ABAC and the University of Georgia with degrees in agricultural economics andbecame a banker. While at ABAC he met his future wife, Alvida "Vickie" Bland of Clyattville, Ga. They married in 1959. In 1966 he was named Executive Vice-President of the First Federal Savings & Loan Association in Thomson. He loved helping his savings and loan customers, serving them as a trusted advisor and friend. After growing up in a hundred-year-old farmhouse in the years following the Great Depression, he took great care to finance quality housing for his community and provide a safe, sound place for their savings. In later years he helped organize McDuffie Bank and Trust.
Bill Howard loved to sing, especially Southern Gospel music. He became a founding member of The Wesleymen Quartet, singing locally at many churches and community events. Confined to the house in recent months due to his cancer and Covid, he discovered YouTube on his iPad and spent many, many happy hours watching and listening to videos of his favorite gospel groups and songs.
Bill lived his strong Christian faith every day but seldom spoke of it. He much preferred to sing about it. He sang bass for 50 years in the Chancel Choir at the First United Methodist Church of Thomson. He was a member of the Exodus Sunday School Class and served in many capacities from Chairman of the Administrative Board to president of the choir. A regular at camp meeting, he was a Trustee and Treasurer for the Whiteoak Campground.
He remembered the kindness of family, friends, and neighbors when his own father died young, he felt a strong responsibility to return that gift to his community. He was a member of the Thomson Jaycees, the Chamber of Commerce, the McDuffie United Way, the Thomson High Band Boosters, and the local Salvation Army. He was a board member for the McDuffie Red Cross and a 6-gallon blood donor.
He had over fifty years of perfect attendance in Rotary and lived "The Four-Way Test" every day. He was a past President of the Thomson club and was named a Will Watt Fellow, a Paul Harris Fellow, and a Hugh Thomas Fellow, and particularly enjoyed his time as a Trustee of the Georgia Rotary Student Program. He saw it as a way to "give back" to his many mentors and educators who helped him get off the farm and attend college.
Bill Howard was a firm believer in public service. He was elected to multiple terms on the McDuffie County Board of Commissioners and the Board Of Education. He was a director of the Jefferson Energy Cooperative for 20 years. He took great pride in serving the organization that he so clearly remembered from his childhood for "turning the lights on."
Bill loved fried chicken and sweet tea. Fishing ran a close second - catching, cleaning, frying, and eating. His children and grandchildren were introduced to iced tea as babies and later he made sure all learned how to bait a hook. He was an avid baseball fan and faithfully followed the Braves, win or lose. He also cheered for the Bulldogs, both Georgia and Thomson.
Bill Howard was preceded in death by his parents, Roy L. and Thelma Poole Howard of Dearing, and his father- and mother-in-law, Reuben and Zona Mae Gaston Bland of Clyattville, two brothers-in-law, Charles Bland of Statenville and Eddie Collins of Cave Spring, a niece, Michelle Bland Smith of Clyattville, and a "later-in-life" stepfather, and fellow Braves fan, Stansil S. Hutto.
In addition to his wife, Vickie, he is survived by son, Wm. Leonard Howard, Jr. of Thomasville, and a daughter, Lisa Howard Wooten (Andrew) of Ellijay. He was the beloved "Papa Bill" to five grandchildren: Reuben Bland Howard, Arlington, Va.; Roy Leonard Howard, Macon; Savannah Wooten, Washington, D.C.; Lydia Wooten and Julia Wooten, both of Friendswood, Tx. Other survivors include his sisters: Marjorie Cole (Bob), Thomson; Doris McClendon (Ernest), Carrollton; Beth McCright (H.L.), Carrollton. Additional survivors are sister-in-law Myrna Collins, Cave Spring, and brothers-in-law Raymond Bland (Mary), Lake Park, and Russell Bland (Beth), Clyattville. He also leaves behind many cherished cousins, nieces, nephews, and good friends.
Memorials may be made to the Music Program at Thomson First United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 8, Thomson, Georgia, 30824.
Curtis Funeral Home is in charge of local arrangements.