Superintendent Joe W. Howard

Celebrating the Life of Superintendent Joe W. Howard

Superintendent Joe W. Howard was called from labor to reward on Monday, February 9th, 2026.

 Superintendent Joe W. Howard was born in Belzoni, Mississippi on September 13th in 1942 to the late LT and Mary (Nelson) Howard.

Pastor Joe W. Howard came to South Bend, Indiana from Belzoni, Mississippi in 1963.  He was called to ministry in 1962.  He was ordained in 1964 under Bishop C.E. Bennett.  In 1987 he was appointed pastor of Elizabeth Memorial Church of God in Christ after serving twenty-one years under the late Elder William H. Wilson Jr.

Superintendent Joe W. Howard served as Pastor of Elizabeth Memorial Church of God in Christ in South Bend, Indiana for 39 years.  To God be the Glory!

“Give instructions to a wise man and he will be wiser, teach a righteous man and he will increase his learning”.  Proverbs 9:9

Superintendent Howard was educated in the Belzoni, Mississippi Public School System.  He furthered his studies at the C.H. Mason Bible College in 1993 with honors as Summa Cum Laude.  He served five years as District Evangelist in the E.A. McNeely District under Superintendent Leroy Sutton.

Superintendent Howard retired from Dodge Manufacturing after 26 faithful years of service.

Superintendent Howard served in the Indiana North Central Fourth Jurisdiction under Bishop Donald L. Alford Sr.  Bishop Alford appointed him Vice President of the Ordination Board and then Pastor Howard was appointed District Sunday School Superintendent by Superintendent Jesse L. Hodges; after which, he served as Superintendent of the JUDAH DISTRICT in South Bend, Indiana.

“And I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will guide you with knowledge and understanding”.  Jeremiah 3:15

Superintendent Howard ran many revivals in Belzoni, Mississippi and South Bend, Indiana, preaching the gospel, where many souls were saved.  He also conducted church services for the sick and shut in, while his wife played the organ!   He loved studying and expounding on the word of God, so much so that some would call him a “Walking Bible”.  In his pastime, he also had a passion for playing the guitar and reading religious study books.

Superintendent Howard married the love of his life Missionary Delores Howard in 1966 in South Bend, Indiana.  They were married for 59 glorious years.  TO GOD BE THE GLORY!  And to this union were born six beautiful children.  Elder Andrew (Evangelist Kelli) of Mishawka, Indiana, Gloria (Lorenzo) Howard-Smith of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, Deborah Eason of Matteson, Illinois, Julia (Roy) Johnson of South Bend, Indiana, Lisa (Martin) Eaton of Indianapolis, Indiana and Christina Howard of Albany Georgia. 

Superintendent and First Lady Howard have twenty-three grandchildren, which four preceded him in death.  Twenty-nine great grandchildren one preceded in death. 

Along with a host of nieces and nephews, he leaves to cherish his memory one sister Ophelia Swann of Orlando, Florida and a very special childhood friend Pastor Wash (Dorothy) Rucker  from Belzoni, Mississippi who now resides in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

He was preceded in death by his parents LT Howard and Mary Howard, his siblings William LV Howard, LT Howard Jr., Ruby Mae Lee, Johnie Mae Swann, Lena Neil, Bobbie Sconiers, Eddie James Howard, Bob Simon and Lillie Swann.

 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.  Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.   And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.  1 John 3:1-3. 

Arrangements are forthcoming.

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