Marie Collins Howell

On the morning of Thursday, August 31, 2017, Marie C. Howell, 95, passed away peacefully after a long and faithful life serving the Lord. Mrs. Howell was born on July 1, 1922 in Cobbtown, Georgia to the late B. Lloyd and Mollie Hendrix Sikes. She was a graduate of the Collins High School Class of 1940 where she excelled as a basketball player. In 1950, she relocated to Warner Robins with her family and, beginning in 1955, operated Joy Land Day Care Center in her home for 22 years. Mrs. Howell had the heart of a servant and spent her life serving others for the glory of her Lord. For many years, she faithfully attended Evergreen Baptist Church in Warner Robins. More recently, she was a member of Rehoboth Baptist Church in Perry where she continued to serve as a greeter and nursery worker. A loving and devoted homemaker, caring for her family was always her highest priority. Mrs. Howell worked as a Funeral Attendant for McCullough Funeral Home for more than 25 years and then later for Watson-Hunt Funeral Home until her retirement. Her smiling face and warm demeanor was a great comfort to many grieving families throughout central Georgia.

Along with her parents, she was preceded in death by her first husband, W.A. Collins, in 1975 after 30 years of marriage, and by her second husband, William B. Howell, in 2001 after 24 years.

Mrs. Howell will be missed by a loving and grateful family, including her son, Jimmy Collins; son, David Collins; daughter, Dohnna Martin; daughter, Cindi Hancock; 8 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren and 3 great-great-grandchildren.

Visitation with Mrs. Howell’s family will be held on Sunday, September 3, 2017, from 3:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. at Rehoboth Baptist Church in Perry. The funeral service celebrating Mrs. Howell’s life will immediately follow at 4:00 p.m. at Rehoboth Baptist Church in Perry with Rev. Mike Britt, Rev. David Fisher, and Rev. Jay Lauritsen officiating. Following the service, Mrs. Howell be laid to rest in Magnolia Park Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully suggests that memorial donations be made to the Rehoboth Baptist Association, 744 Lake Joy Rd., Warner Robins, GA 31088.