Headstone for James W. Howard
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- Legacies Classification
- Memorial Type
- Memorial Context
- Memorialized Subject
- Title
- Background and Context
- Physical Description
- Memorial Inscription
- Creator/Participating Person(s)
- Date created, installed or dedicated
- Date Modified
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- Location: Institution, City, State
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Memorial Artwork
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Sculptural Memorial
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Headstone for James W. Howard
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On June 26, 2021, James W. Howard, former Davidson College employee, U.S. Postal Service worker, and funeral director, died. He was also a beloved father and highly-regarded community leader affectionately known to many as "Pop Howard." The funeral was arranged by W.H. Bryant, A.E. Grier and Sons Funeral Home. His services included a visitation and funeral service at their chapel in Mooresville, NC. Following the well-attended funeral services, he was laid to rest at the Christian Aid Society Cemetery on July 10, 2021.
The double headstone memorializes James William Howard (1929-2021) and his wife, Dovie Houston Howard. The headstone features a marital symbol of two wedding rings interlocking along a vine, representing the enduring love between James and Dovie. Mr. Howard is buried alongside his wife, Dovie. To the left of their gravesite lies their daughter, Rev. Brenda Tapia, a former Davidson College assistant chapel and Love of Learning director.
Initially installed in 2008 after Dovie's death, the memorial was updated following James's passing in 2021. This memorial commemorates James Howard's multifaceted life and love of family. The Howard family privately funded the memorial.
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The headstone is a medium-sized, rectangular marble stone, featuring a meaningful martial symbol of two wedding rings interlocking along a vine, representing love and unity. The surname "HOWARD" is prominently engraved in a large, sans-serif font at the top center. Below, on the left side, are the details for James W. Howard: "JAMES W." stacked above "JAN. 19, 1929" as his date of birth and “June 26, 2021” as his date of death. On the right side, Dovie H. Howard's information is similarly presented: "DOVIE H." over "NOV. 5, 1927" as her date of birth and "SEPT. 29, 2008" as her date of death. Centrally positioned between their names is the engraved design of the two overlapping wedding rings. Below the rings, the inscription "MARRIED FEB. 8 1949" is engraved. The headstone appears to be set directly into the ground, with no visible surrounding landscaping features in the immediate vicinity. The stone has a smooth, polished finish, typical of marble headstones.
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Howard
(on left of interlocking rings) James W.
Jan. 19, 1929
June 26, 2021
On right of interlocking rings: Dovie H.
Nov. 5, 1927
Sept. 28, 2008
Below: Married Feb. 8, 1949
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2008
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2021
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Friends and Family of James W. Howard
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Christian Aid Society
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“Death Document Access” in Mecklenburg County North Carolina, U.S., Deaths as of 04/10/2025 [database on-line], Ancestry.com
Position: 1271 (58 views)