Francis Ono Howell, Sr.

1884-1963

Francis Howell was born June 17, 1884 in Middleton, TN. He married Martha Carolyn Hatler. He and his wife had eight children. He was baptized by T. B. Hicks in August 1900. He went to school at Southern Tennessee Normal, Georigia Robertson Christian College, Nashville Bible School, Hall-Moody Institue, LaSalle Extension University. He had the following debates: Howell-Cacey, Howell-Bogard, Howell-Autrey, and Howell-Clark. Howell was living in Memphis at 3385 Coleman Avue when he died in 1963 at the age of 79.
During his sixty years of preaching, he baptized over 10,000 people and established sixty-two congregations. He baptized 25 men who later became full-time preachers. (Preachers of Today, Vol. 1, 1950).
Funeral was at Cosmopolitan Funeral Home in Memphis and burial was at Memorial Cemetery. Brother Howell was 79 years old when he died. He preached for over 60 years and baptized over 10,000 people. (The Commercial Appeal, 1963).
His brother, Franklin Ezra Howell had a son, Maurice Howell, who was a gospel preacher.

Brother Howell is buried at Memorial Park Cemetery in Memphis which is near the I-240 and Poplar Avenue. He is buried in the Hollyhill section and is just beyond the hedge row running left and right in the picture below. The photos were taken by Tom Childers on 23 Feb. 2009.

Last Update: 07/23/10 - Copyright Tom L. Childers