Rev. Roy Leslie Howard

Roy was born August 13, 1930. He joined the Ridgedale Methodist Church in 1936. He grew up in Chattanooga and graduated from Central High School on Dodds Avenue in 1947; he served on the reunion committee. He graduated from Emory and Henry College in 1951 and from Candler School of Theology in 1954.

He joined Holston Conference of the Methodist Church (later United Methodist) and served the following pastoral appointments; Niota, Tennessee 1954-56; Dante, Knoxville, 1956-61; Whitwell-Red Hill, Tennessee, 1961-65; Associate, Second Church, Knoxville, 1965-67; Clapp's Chapel, Knoxville, 1967-70; Associate, Central Knoxville 1970-72; Mountain City, Tennessee 1972-75; Bethel and Ebenezer, Knoxville, 1975-77; Ebenezer and West View, Knoxville, 1977-78; Chestnut Hill, Tennessee, 1978-79; Oneida, Tennessee, 1989-1993; Mascot-Hopewell, Knoxville, 1983-88; Trinity, Bristol, Virginia, 1988-91; St. Elmo, Chattanooga, 1991-1995. After retirement he served five months at Daisy, Tennessee in 2005. In seven of those churches, he was also choir director. His brothers, J.N. and Marvin were also ministers in Holston Conference.

Roy served eight years as a member of the Conference Commission on Archives and History, during which time the Conference and Emory and Henry College agreed to share an archivist. He served twenty-eight years as president of the Conference Historical Society and wrote several articles for the society.

In retirement, Roy played the sousaphone in the Chattanooga Community Orchestra and sang in the Chattanooga Scenic City Chorale and went with them on three trips to Europe. He served more than ten years as pianist at the Wauhatchie United Methodist Church.

He was predeceased by his parents R. L. and Ferol Carver Howard, of Chattanooga, and his son Rev. Rick Howard, in 2004, who was a minister in Holston Conference of the United Methodist Church.

He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Barbara, daughter, Debbie (Garry), daughter-in-law, Claudia, seven granddaughters and 5 great grandchildren, as well as his brothers JN and Marvin Howard, and sister Joyce Stanbery.

A Celebration of Roy’s Life will be held in the sanctuary of Wauhatchie United Methodist Church on Wednesday September 23, 2020 at 11:00 am with Roy’s brothers, JN and Marvin Howard officiating. The family will receive friends at the church beginning at 10:00 am until service time. He will be laid to rest in the Webb Cemetery in Madisonville.

We respectfully request that all current mandates set forth by the CDC and Hamilton County be adhered to. This includes “social distancing and wearing masks at all times while on the premises.

In lieu of flowers, gifts may be given to the R.L and Ferol Howard Ministerial Scholarship Fund at Tennessee Wesleyan University, Athens, Tennessee.

Arrangements are under the care of Chattanooga Funeral Home Crematory and Florist East Chapel, 404 South Moore Rd. East Ridge, TN 37412.

Please share your thoughts and memories at www.ChattanoogaEastChapel.com