Jesse J. Howell, Jr., 80, of Fitzgerald, Georgia, died Friday, January 11, 2019, at his residence.
Funeral services will be held 2 PM, Monday, January 14, 2019, at The Paulk Funeral Home Chapel in Fitzgerald with the Rev. Dr. Lloyd Stembridge and the Rev. Blane Jacobs officiating. Interment will follow in Arbor Cemetery, Ben Hill County. The family will receive friends from 6-8 Sunday evening at the funeral home in Fitzgerald.
Mr. Howell was born November 3, 1938, in Irwin County, Georgia, to the late Jesse Jackson Howell, Sr. and Mary Ella Lindsey Howell. He was a 1957 graduate of Irwin County High School. He served his country honorably in the United States Army during the Vietnam War era. He worked for CSX Railroad for over 34 years, retiring as a conductor. Mr. Howell loved restoring old cars and was particularly fond of his 1956 Ford. He will be greatly missed by his furry companion, Penny. He was a member of First Baptist Church where he had served as a deacon.
He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Carol Green Howell of Fitzgerald; son, Tommy & Lyn Howell of Fitzgerald; daughter, Melinda & Robert Chambless of Sylvester; daughter-in-law, Stephanie Howell of Fitzgerald; grandchildren: Kimberly Howell, Katie & Justin Horne, David Howell, Matthew Howell, and Payton Chambless; siblings: Jimmy Howell, Sr. of Fitzgerald, Laverne Tucker & Joe of Alapaha, Sammy Howell & Gail of Fitzgerald, Lamar Howell & Rhonda of Tifton, Donnie Howell & Debbie of Fitzgerald, Ronnie Howell & Dianne of Warner Robins, Dean Howell of Lake City, FL, and Dianne Kinnett & Jimmy of Leesburg; a brother-in-law, Dwight Handley, and a multitude of nephews, nieces, and cousins. Along with his parents, he was preceded in death by a son, Mike Howell; two sisters, Jeanette Howell Woods and Mary DeLois Howell Handley, and an infant brother, Jerry Wayne Howell.