By Staff
ATMORE - Barbara B. Howard, who was born in Sumiton on May 17, 1929, reared in neighboring Jasper, died on Nov. 23, 2009 at her home in Atmore.
Her parents were Eldred Mayo “Dick” Burrow, who for many years was sheriff of Walker County, and Alyce Faught Burrow, a school teacher. In 1952, Mrs. Howard married William J. Howard, Jr. who together with her parents and two sisters, Betty B. Burrow and Mary B. Joyner, preceded her in death.
Mrs. Howard graduated from Gulf Park College in Mississippi in 1948 with honors in speech and from the University of Alabama in 1950 with a degree in journalism. She was a member of Chi Omega sorority, and in 1970 she was given the University of Alabama Distinguished Alumna award.
Mrs. Howard was a feature writer at the “Daily Mountain Eagle” in Jasper, 1945-48, and a women’s editor at the “Tuscaloosa Sun,” 1950-51 before joining Alabama Congressman Carl Elliot’s staff in Washington as legislative assistant and press secretary 1951-53. She became press secretary and staff writer-editor for Congressman Armistead Selden, 1953-62. Later, she was involved in the planning of social engagements of Presidents Kennedy and Johnson and in speech writing for the latter.
After leaving government work in 1962, Mrs. Howard continued public relations work in the Washington area while residing successively in Chevy Chase and Rockville, Md. She became executive director of the Montgomery County Maryland Arts Council. In 1970-80, Mrs. Howard appeared in Who’s Who of American Women.
After retiring in the early 1990’s the Howard’s moved South to Destin, Fla. and in 1966 they moved to Atmore where Mrs. Howard was a communicant of St. Andrews Anglican Church.
Survivors include three nieces, Jan Jaynes Henderson of Bessemer, Alyce Jaynes Weaver of Petersburg, Tenn. and Martha Jaynes Church of Chattanooga, Tenn.; a grandniece, Laura Henderson Hayworth of Ringgold, Ga. and four cousins, Barbara A. Crane of New York, Celia Crane Henderson of Birmingham, Danielle R. Crane of Los Angeles and Rachel N. Reese of Birmingham.
A graveside service was held Nov. 30, 2009 at Fort Barrancas at the Naval Air Station in Pensacola with the Rev. Thomas Raines officiating. The family requests that memorials be sent to St. Andrews Anglican Church at P.O. Box 843 Atmore.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home, Inc. handled funeral arrangements.