Lucille Ella Howard

Mrs. Lucille Ella Polk Howard, 91, of Martin died Wednesday, September 16, 2015, at Van Ayer Nursing Center. Services will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, September 20, 2015, at Oak Grove Missionary Baptist Church with Pastor Jackie Thomas officiating Minister Natalie Boyd eulogist. Interment will follow in Parham Cemetery. Visitation will begin at 1 p.m. on Sunday at the church. Lucille Ella Polk Howard was born February 10, 1924 to the late Fred and Eller Wease Polk, Sr. Lucille confessed a hope in Christ at an early age. She later joined New Providence Baptist Church in Detroit, Michigan under the leadership of Rev. Edward Solomon where she served faithfully on the Nurses Guild. Upon moving to Martin, Tennessee, she joined Oak Grove M. B. Church under the leadership of Rev. Alvin J. Summers until her health failed. As a member, she served by creating and sewing Christmas costumes for Matthew 18:3 Children’s Ministry whom she taught the value of character. She was also a “grandmother” to many neighborhood children. Lucille gave of herself with a beautiful smile, a heart of compassion and strong faith in God. Lucille was a 1944 graduate of Manassas High School in Memphis, Tennessee. She was united in holy matrimony in 1952 to James Howard, Jr. and to this union four children were born. She and her husband worked diligently (James at Chrysler Motors and she as a cashier at Spotlight Grocery Store for 22 years). After years of working, she became a full time homemaker and reared two grandchildren, Jarrel and Jasmine. Preceding her in death: her husband, James Howard, Jr.; her parents, Fred and Eller Wease Polk, Sr.; seven siblings; and a host of friends. Lucille…affectionately called “Lucy” leaves to cherish her memory: five children, Barbara Ann Polk of Nashville, TN, Mark (Carol) Howard of Detroit , MI, Cynthia (Michael) Morgan of Atlanta, GA, Deborah Howard of Martin, TN, and Dennis Howard of Atlanta, GA; four grandchildren, Shawna, Annina, Jarrel and Jasmine; two sisters, Leora Polk of Martin, TN and Rebecca Lowe of Detroit, MI; two brothers, J.D. Polk of Chicago, IL and Fred Polk, Jr. of Oak Park, IL. Two special children, Natalie (Roy) Boyd and John (Marissa) Griggs and four special grandchildren, Cameron Boyd, Mariah Boyd, Jalen Griggs and John Cameron Griggs along with a host of other relatives and friends. Rawls Funeral Home - Union City 731-885-8110