Samuel Howell

Obituary

Mr. Samuel Howell was born January 29, 1949 in St. Matthews, South Carolina, in Calhoun County.  He was the beloved son of the late Apostle Alcart Howell, Sr., and the late Ella Wright Howell. He died on Sunday, January 10, 2021, at his home in Columbia, SC from complications due to the COVID-19 virus.

Sam was educated in the public schools of Calhoun County where he attended Guinyard Elementary and John Ford High School. He graduated from C.A. Johnson High School in the Class of 1968.  He was drafted into the U.S. Army in the fall of 1968. He served bravely in the Vietnam War in the First Armored Brigade Combat Team “IRONHORSE,” First Cavalry Division. Afterward, he returned to Columbia, SC where he attended Midlands Technical College to study criminal justice and Claflin College. 

He was united in holy matrimony with Mary Frances Taylor on November 17, 1971.

Sam was employed with the Department of Health and Environmental Control and at Fort Jackson Hospital, where he retired after 30 years as a paramedic. He also served in the Army Reserve for 30 years and was a member of the Midland’s South Carolina Chapter of the Buffalo Soldiers. He was a track coach and competitive runner for many years. He played guitar for several music groups. He was a faithful member and musician at Miracle Deliverance Temple.

He was preceded in death by father Apostle Alcart Howell, Sr., mother Ella W. Howell, and sisters Ella Mae (“Nancy”) Howell Wilson and Albertha (“Bert”) Howell.

Those who will cherish fond and precious memories of Samuel are his loving and devoted wife Mary Frances; his daughter, Crystal Sameen Washington, of Charlotte, NC; his sister, Stella (Marion) Howell Green of Leavenworth, KS; sister, Loretta Howell of Charlotte, NC; brother, Alcart “Smokey” Howell, Jr. of Columbia, SC; sisters, Janette (Vesco) Howell Faulks and Janice (Gregory) Howell Howard of Columbia, SC; aunt, Rosa Lucas; mother-in-law, Estelle Taylor and a host of nieces, nephews, and other loving relatives and dear friends, all of whom join the family in sharing the grief caused by his departure.