Jimmy Howard

James C. (“Jimmy”) Howard, 100, of Wilmington, North Carolina, passed away on August 21, 2023. He was born in Richlands, NC, on April 23, 1923 (the same month that Yankee Stadium first opened in the Bronx, New York), to Eugene C. and Madge Lockamy Howard. He was their eldest and had 12 siblings, though only seven lived to adulthood. Jimmy married Lottie Kathryn Mintz on August 6, 1949, and survived her, after 72 years of marriage.

Jimmy was the valedictorian of his 1942 class at the North Carolina School for the Deaf, in Morganton. The marvelous education he received there prepared him for a life among both the deaf and hearing communities. Although he learned sign language well, all of his other classes were taught by the spoken word and he had to read lips to learn his lessons. He also learned the printing trade, his profession, at Morganton. He was accepted to Gallaudet College in Washington, D.C., but chose to begin his printing career to support himself and his hoped-for future family. A highlight of his time in Morganton was a visit to the school by Helen Keller, who in an assembly answered questions posed by sign language into her hands.

Jimmy worked at several small town newspapers, and then the Wilmington Star-News (where he met Lottie), the New Bern Sun Journal, and finally, The Washington Post. That position took Jimmy, Lottie and son Carlton, 18 months old, to the Virginia suburbs of Washington, D.C. At the Post, Jimmy saw Herblock, the political cartoonist, and Shirley Povich, the famed sportswriter, applying their craft. Later, he transferred to the Government Printing Office, where he helped print the daily Congressional Record, among many other Government publications. There, he received an award of merit for his fine service from the Public Printer, the highest official printer in this nation. After retirement, Jimmy continued to work several years for a small D.C. printshop, Wilson-Eppes, that specialized in briefs to the federal appellate courts, including the Supreme Court of the United States. Yet, all the above accomplishments only begin to tell Jimmy’s story.

His primary love was Lottie and the family they completed in Virginia when Keith and Susan came along. He was very much a doting dad for all three kids. Attending sports, dance, water ballet, concerts (!!), and all manner of other kid-related events, Jimmy demonstrated his love and approval of whatever activities the kids pursued. And he and Lottie were legendary Saturday night bridge players with their good friends, the Deans and the Bakers, and with Homer and Mildred and Alton and Berniece, Jimmy’s dear brothers and sisters-in-law.

Jimmy also loved his Lord and church and acted as a trustee for the Duke Street Baptist Church, Alexandria, Virginia, for many years. And yes, he dearly loved his Detroit Tigers, even though he only attended a single home game in Detroit in this lifetime.

He and Lottie loved to travel, and travel they did! Finland, Russia, Estonia, the Pacific Northwest, Hawaii, Alaska, China, Costa Rica, continental Europe and Britain and Ireland, and most of the lower 48.

But still, his greatest love was family. Months before his 90th birthday, Jimmy’s kids asked what he might like to do to celebrate. Our thinking was maybe travel to a nice place or to a special event. The Master’s Golf, perhaps, or an exotic new destination. He answer came quickly and clearly. He wanted us to arrange a family reunion in Richlands and get as many as possible to come help him celebrate. And his joy at that occasion was clear for all to see.

Jimmy’s last big event was his 100th birthday party, held under a tent on the large lawn immediately next to the house in which he was born, on West Hargett Street, Richlands. Nearly 100 family and friends helped him celebrate one last time.

His avocations included crossword puzzles, newspaper reading (perhaps proofreading would be more accurate!), live and televised sports, long walks, especially on Topsail and Ocean Isle Beaches, fishing, cool weather oyster roasts and any seafood joint in Calabash, NC.

Jimmy, is survived by his brother Alton, sister Jeannette, his children, Carlton (Lee), Keith (Erja) and Susan; his grandchildren, Gerry, Gideon (Hanna), Ilona, Oona (Jussi), Kathryn (Daphne), Bradley (Sydney) and Michelle; and great-grandchildren Ashley, Anthony, Anton, Tara, Nikke and Johannes. His step-grandson Mark preceded him in death, survived by his children, Kayleigh, Mark, Jr., Jeremiah and Jasmine and their collective ten children.

A memorial service will be held on September 28, at 11:00 a.m., with visitation one hour earlier, at the Coble Funeral and Cremation Service, 1155 Shipyard Boulevard, Wilmington, NC. Jimmy’s cremains will be interred at the Mintz Cemetery, near Shallotte, NC, next to Lottie’s. The memorial service will also be live-streamed using Tribucast: https://client.tribucast.com/tcid/2704066302

Condolences may be sent to the family at www.coblegreenlawn.com.