Elizabeth Watt Richardson Howard

Mrs. Howard was born March 25, 1943 in Spartanburg, S.C., to the late Robert Benbow Richardson and Lucile Scarborough Richardson. She grew up in Reidsville, N.C., and moved to Charlotte in 1957. After graduating from Myers Park High School, Mrs. Howard attended Lees McRae College in Banner Elk, UNC Chapel Hill, and Queens University in Charlotte. She graduated from the Cytotechnology School at Cabarrus Memorial Hospital, and she later studied and worked at Duke University Medical Center. She also worked for Dr. Claude Gompel at the Institute Jules Bordet at the University of Brussels in Brussels, Belgium. Mrs. Howard was an affiliate member of the American Society of Clinical Pathologists and a member of the International Academy of Cytotechnologists. She was a member of the Quaker Meadows Chapter, in Morganton, N.C., of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Mrs. Howard enjoyed her friends, needlepointing and antiques, but she found her greatest joy in her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Mrs. Howard is survived by her husband of forty-four years, James Hampden Howard, Jr.; and a daughter, Helen Howard Wallace and her husband Travis of Pearisburg, VA, by grandchildren Hayleigh Alexis Pence, Miranda Aynsleigh Pence, Ericka Ashleigh Pence, Walker Howard Gillespie, Jacob Conner Wallace and Evelyn Amanda Wallace and by three great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her daughter, Mary Graham Blake, and by her brother, Robert Benbow Richardson, Jr.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, September 2 at the Basilica of Our Lady, Help of Christians with burial to follow at Belmont Abbey Cemetery, Belmont, N.C.

The family would like to express its appreciation to Dr. Jonathan Planer, MD, and the doctors of Metrolina Nephrology Associates and to the staff of Fresenius Kidney Care, Kings Mountain, who so professionally cared for Mrs. Howard for the past thirteen years. The family also extends its thanks to the staff at Belaire Health Care Center for the compassionate care provided to Mrs. Howard during the past seven months.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Belmont Abbey Monastery, 100 Belmont-Mt Holly Road, Belmont, NC 28012.