John Henry and Mary Crawford Howell

John Henry Howell was my Grandfather. He was born Feb. 1 1903 in Barbour County Alabama. He was the third child of Robert Lee and Lydia Howell.

John was raised on a farm along with his seven siblings. He had an older brother (John Wade Howell) who died as a two year old child in 1901.

It's not known how several of the brothers became involved in construction but John's older brother Arthur became a city building inspector in Tampa Florida. This is how John came to be in Tampa where he met my Grandmother Mary Crawford.

Mary Crawford was born April 5th 1906 near New Albany Mississippi. She was the first born of three daughters to Lovie Sanford and Bebe Crawford.

There is quite a mystery surrounding Lovie and Bebe, it seems that he left her soon after the three girls were born. I have been told that Lovie and the girls for a short time moved to California then back to Mississippi and from there to Tampa where they remained.

Mary is the only one who left Tampa, the others including Melba, a daughter born to Carlie are buried at Rose Hill Cemetery in Tampa.

John and Mary had three children Mary, Barbara and John Crawford Howell, my father. They lived in Bay Minnette Al for a short time at one point then returned to Bakerhill where they lived the remainder of their lives. John died on March 18 1978, Mary lived until December of 1985. They are both buried at Rocky Mount UMC in Bakerhill.