Annie Ruth Garner Howell

Annie Ruth Garner Howell – an 85 year old native of Ackerman, MS and a resident of Creola, passed away at her home on Tuesday, June 28, 2011. Above all, she lived her life to honor her Lord, Jesus Christ. She was a loving and devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother. She graduated in 1949 from Spring Hill College School of Nursing and faithfully served for more than thirty years as a registered nurse at Mobile Infirmary, Suburban Hospital and for a short while at Searcy Hospital. Mrs. Howell provided many years of loving medical assistance to the residents of Creola and the surrounding areas. She was a devoted charter member of Creola First Baptist Church, serving as a Sunday School teacher for many years and a member of the Board of Trustees. She was a former member of the Eastern Star organization of Fairhope, AL. Mrs. Howell was preceded in death by her husband of 14 years, Albert Eugene Nelson. She is survived by her beloved husband of 47 years, Billy (Bill) Howell, with whom she enjoyed numerous travel adventures across the continental United States and Alaska. Her life was greatly enriched by the company of her and her husband’s countless “RV” friends, with whom they shared a love for the natural beauty of the United States. She is also survived by her four sons, Donald (Deborah Stewart) Nelson, Patrick (Deborah Robinson) Nelson, Michael (Gloria Curtis) Nelson, Dr. Glenn (Dottie Gray) Nelson, along with her four stepsons, Billy Howell, Kenny (Lorrie Wallace) Howell, Mark (Kim Huff) Howell and Alan (Wendy Andrews) Howell, and her stepdaughter, Geraldine Howell Reeves, 23 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren. She had eight siblings, seven of whom preceded her in death. She leaves her brother, Billy Garner of Bridgeport, TX, along with other relatives and friends to cherish her memory. Funeral services will be held at Creola First Baptist Church in Creola on Friday, July 1, 2011 at 12:00 p.m. The family will receive friends at the church beginning at 10:30 a.m. prior to services. Interment will be in Creola Cemetery.