Johanna Banks Howard

Johanna Banks Howard, 91, died at Asbury Place Health Center on Sunday, March 29, 2009. She was born on February 6, 1918 in Dowelltown, TN. She received her education at Baxter Seminary, Tennessee Wesleyan College and Union College (Barbourville, KY). She was married for 53 years to the Rev. Hillard Howard, a Methodist pastor. From 1943 to 1984 she and her husband served churches in Tennessee, Illinois and Florida. She also taught in public and private schools, from second grade to high school senior English. In retirement she was an active member of First United Methodist Church, Maryville. She also was a devoted tutor in Blount County Adult Literacy Program. Her life was a beautiful incarnation of compassion, patience and commitment. She will be much missed by those who knew her. She was preceded in death by parents, Harmon Monroe and Elrissa Barry Banks; husband, Hillard Roscoe Howard; brother, Bud William Banks; and son, Albert Harmon Howard. She is survived by : sister and husband, Dean Banks and Milan Tucker; son and daughter-in-law, Harry Lee and Nancy Ketchersid Howard; granddaughter and husband, Rachel Howard and Jamie Cloud; great-grandson, Michael Anthony Cloud; nieces and husbands, Diane Harter and Dennis Strege, and Denise Harter and Timothy Bridges; grand-nieces and grand-nephews, Emily Strege, Aaron Strege, Amanda Strege, Alex Strege, Angelica Bridges, Gloria Bridges and Austin Bridges. A Service of Celebration of her life will be held on Wednesday, April 1, at 2 p.m. at First United Methodist Church, Maryville. Pastoral leadership includes the Rev. Melody Kidd, the Rev. Robert Hayes, the Rev. Larry Carroll and the Rev. Brenda Carroll. Pallbearers include David Banks, Timothy Bridges, Jamie Cloud, Frank Hancock, James Ketchersid and Aaron Strege. Interment will be at Highland Memorial Cemetery on Thursday, April 2, at 10 a.m. Memorials may be given to First United Methodist Church, Maryville and to Asbury Place, Maryville.