Oma Austin Howell

Oma was born on January 4, 1925 in Harnett County, NC to the late William and Ruth Austin. Oma was proud to be a farmer's wife. Her early employment included being a bookkeeper at Hudson Belk in downtown Raleigh and later employment at CCB bank in Apex, NC. Oma's leadership and participation at Salem Baptist Church included Adult Choir, WMU, Barker-Howell Circle, GA's and co-teaching Young Marrieds Class. She was the "unofficial event coordinator" for church family and friends. Oma was also dedicated to personal outreach through correspondance of letters, cards and phone.

Oma served the larger Apex community by organizing and making deliveries through Meals on Wheels.

In addition to her parents, William and Ruth Austin, Oma is preceded in death by her husband of 61 years, Sherwood Hudson Howell; infant child, Michael Hudson; daughter, Judith H York; brother, W. Onis Austin; and sisters, Velma A. Hobbs and Betty A. Burnette.

She will be lovingly remembered by her brother, James W. Austin (Joy); sister-in-law, Virginia P. Howell; son-in-law, Ron York; daughters, Sandra H. Hitchcock (Tim), and Marsha H. Massey (Tommy); son, S. Hudson Howell (Diana); grandchildren, Suzanne Wingard (Tripp), Ryan York, Leslie Hitchcock-Stone (Toby), Benjamin Hitchcock, Michael Hitchcock (Sophia), Meredith Koenig (Greg), and Andrew Howell (fiancé, Suzanna); great-grandchildren, Zoe Wingard, Olivia Hitchcock, and Jude Stone; and many nieces and nephews. She truly lived her given name, Oma which means "grandmother" in German.

A private family service will be held at Salem Baptist Church with a burial to follow at the church cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to National Parkinson Foundation, Alzheimer's Association or Salem Baptist Building Fund.

The family would like to extend a special thanks to the staff at Brittany Place at SearStone in Cary, NC.

Condolences can be shared at apexfuneral.net