Earline Ray Rogers Howard

Earline Ray Rogers Howard, age 80, was born at home in the Macedonia community of Noxubee County on the 27 ^th of April, 1942.  She lived her whole life in the Macedonia community, except for a short time in Winston County and as a resident at Atwood in Neshoba County.  She was a homemaker and a stay-at-home mom, and sold Watkin’s products for a short time.  During her time at Atwood she enjoyed their southern gospel singing, preaching, bingo and chicken foot dominos.

She married the love of her life, Buster Howard. They celebrated 50 plus years of marriage. Part of Earline died on January 18, 2019, when Buster passed.  He was her heart. Earline was a member of Macedonia Methodist Church, where she taught children’s Sunday School, VBS, played the piano, and served on various committees.  She was proud to have received perfect attendance for five consecutive years of Sunday School attendance.  She initiated Macedonia’s first youth choir, which sang every Sunday and also performed at various churches in the area.

Earline was known for her baking skills. Some of her well known dishes were homemade biscuits, tomato gravy, and chicken and dumplings.  Family meant the world to Earline. Her home was always open to any family or non-family member who needed a place to stay or just to come visit. Along with her husband she enjoyed attending concerts, plays, ball games, and graduations of her grandchildren.  When her family was young she enjoyed planning annual vacations; preparing stops that were educational and memorable.  Everyone that knew Earline, knew that she loved Jesus, her family, her Macedonia church family, and life.

Earline is survived by daughters, Karen (Lonnie) Fortner of Port Gibson, Dawn (Ward) Hill of Macon, and Christy (Jerry) Ferguson of Philadelphia; six grandchildren, Leah Ferguson, Nicole Ferguson, Beth Fortner, Eli Hill, Lee Fortner, and Logan Hill, one great grandchild Riley Grace Hill and a host of nieces, nephews, and friends.

Earline is proceeded in death by her spouse of 55 years, Buster Howard; parents Jess and Josephine Rogers; brothers, James Rogers, Joseph Rogers, and Clyde Rodger; sisters, Clytee Drake, and Maggie Eaves.

Pallbearers are Johnny Rosemond, Johnny Black, James Melvin Higginbotham, Larry Burton, Richie White, Melvin Cotton, Wesley Cotton, Terry Wayne Rigdon and Cecil McArthur.

A funeral service is planned for Sunday, January 15, 2023 at Macedonia Community Church, 3247 Honey Lake Rd., Shuqualak, MS at 3:00 p.m. Interment will follow in the church cemetery. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service. The family request in lieu of flowers that donations be made to Macedonia Community Church 3247 Honey Lake Rd, Shuqualak, MS  39361.