Mark Howard

    Mr. Mark Howard, 64, of Pachuta, Miss., passed from this life Monday, April 9, 2018 at Forrest General Hospital in Hattiesburg, Miss. He was born in Dallas, Texas, on Friday, July 24, 1953, to Beemon "Doc" Howard and Mary Kathryn Howard. He was a member of Calvary Baptist Church and Abundant Life Church. 
    Mark graduated from Jones County Junior College and University of Southern Mississippi where he received a bachelor's degree in Political Science. He received his Doctor of Jurisprudence at Mississippi College School of Law. He spent all 34 years of his law career in Waynesboro, where he served as Public Defender for 12 years and was a member of the Mississippi Volunteer Lawyers Project. He was an Active Member of  the Mississippi Bar Association as well as the Mississippi Trial Lawyers Association. He protected abused and neglected children of Wayne County by serving as a Guardian ad Litem. 
    Mark was passionate about scuba diving, fishing, vacationing in the Virgin Islands, football, and muscle cars. Aside from his academic pursuits, Mark lived his entire life in Waynesboro, except for the one brief stint when he and his wife, the love of his life Jean, decided to live in the U.S. Virgin Islands. He lived his life with compassion and generosity toward others and felt compelled to be a voice and advocate for the young and the weak, He embodied the free-spirited mantra of "No Regrets," believed in living life to the fullest, and did not highly prize material possessions, insisting he was perfectly content with his "t-shirts and memories." 
    Mark is preceded in death by his wife, Jean Howard; father, Beemon "Doc" Howard and mother, Mary Kathryn Howard. He is survived by his daughters, Mersey Nix, Daphne, AL; Wendy Kelley (Greg), Waynesboro, MS, Sandy Pittman, Butler, AL; sister, Angela Crimm, Forest, MS; half-sister, Linnlee Reilly, Coraopolis, PA; 6 grandchildren, Chase Kelley, Connor Kelley, Mary Kathryn Sellers, Abney Grace Pittman, Lauren Whitehead, Katie Whitehead; 2 great-grandchildren, Jackson Sellers, Charlie Kate Sellers; nephew, John Lee and 2 nieces, Stacey Boyett, LeeAnna Crimm. 
    Visitation for Mark will be held from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM, Wednesday, April 11, 2018 at Freeman Funeral Home, 1305 Skyland Drive, Waynesboro, MS. Funeral Services will be held at 1:00 PM Wednesday, April 11, 2018 at Freeman Funeral Home with Rev. Paul Harris officiating. Interment will be in Bonner Cemetery in Toxey, AL. 

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