Extracted from The News & Observer (Goldsboro, NC)
Monday, August 2, 2004

Wilma P. Howard

Wilma Parker Howard, 96, passed away quietly in her sleep Saturday morning at her Selma home.

Born October 17, 1907 in Selma, she was a daughter of the late Joseph Elijah and Addie O'Neal Parker; she was preceded in death by her husband, Paul Howard in 2002. A lifelong Johnston County resident, Mrs. Howard began teaching in 1927 and after a loving, dedicated 75-year career in local classrooms - at the age of 86 - began full-time work as a rural researcher with the UNC Osteoarthritis Project.

She worked her way through Atlantic Christian College in the 920's, graduating with honors, and received her Masters in Education from East Carolina University. She was inducted into the Delta Kappa Gamma honor society for teachers and received state and national awards throughout her career for contributions to N.C. education. Dr. John Tart, President of Johnston Community College said, "She had done as much to erase illiteracy in N.C. as any person I know."

She was twice The News and Observer's ``Tar Heel of the Week'' and was especially proud to be the Master of Ceremony for Selma's Railroad Days in 1994.

A long-time member of Selma Baptist Church, she taught Sunday School and summer vacation Bible School. In addition to her teaching, community service and church work, Mrs. Howard was actively involved with her husband and son on their Johnston County farm.

A loving, wife, mother, aunt, sister and grandmother, Mrs. Howard is survived by her son, Sonny; grandchildren, Laura and Will; sister, Helen West of Cary; brother Braxton Parker of Henderson; daughter-in-law, Cindy Howard; and step-grandsons, Bray and Jordan Autry.

Funeral services will be conducted at 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, August 3, 2004 in the chapel of Parrish Funeral Home with the Dr. Lorenzo Stott, Mr. Fred Bartholomew and Mr. Jim Parker officiating. Burial will follow in Selma Memorial Gardens.

Flowers are acceptable or memorial contributions may be made to Johnston Community College Foundation, Inc., P.O. Box 2350, Smithfield, NC 27577.

The family will receive friends from 7-9 p.m. today at the funeral home.