HOWELL, EFFIE IRA WHISENANT REED

Effie Ira Whisenant Reed Howell, age 94 of Trussville, AL passed away on July 16, 2012. Mrs. Howell was a member of Deerfoot Baptist Church, having taught Sunday School for over 50 years in other churches she attended in Birmingham, Trussville, and Knoxville, TN. She was a member of the Agape Sunday School Class of Deerfoot Baptist Church. Mrs. Howell was employed by Steel Construction Co., a subsidiary of Ingalls Iron Works, as a clerk for several years before moving to Knoxville, TN in 1941. At the beginning of World War II, for 15 years she was a secretary and office manager of John F. Humphrey Co. in Knoxville, TN. On August 6, 1945 Mrs. Howell was awarded a certification by the United States War Department Army Service Forces-Corps of Engineers Manhattan District for her participation in work essential to the successful conclusion of World War II. She returned to Birmingham in 1958. She then became a clerk in the Accounting department of Brownell Travel Bureau, Inc. retiring as Manager of Accounting after 32 years of continuous service. She is preceded in death by husbands: Will Reed in 1938; Richard M. Howell in 1956; parents: Lila Jones Whisenant and husband Ira Jackson Whisenant; brother, Jackson C. Whisenant (Josie); grandson, Barry Reed Tuggle; step-daughters: Marion Howell Lewis; Betty Howell Rudder; step-son: Layton Howell. She is survived by her daughter, Patricia Reed Tuggle (Charles), Trussville, AL; sister, Joan Bragg, Lake Charles, LA; grandson, Timothy Charles Tuggle (Nancy), Trussville, AL; great grandchildren, Karly Tuggle Gowins (Garrett) and Kasey Tuggle, Trussville, AL, Lila Tuggle Brand, Reed Tuggle Brand, and Wally Brand; granddaughter-in-law, Sallie Brand (Jack), Ocean Springs, MS; step grandchildren, Neville Howell (Sherrie), Knoxville, TN, Nancy Howell Major (Steve), Lilburn, GA, Joe Rudder (Brenda). Pigeon Forge, TN, Rick Rudder (Frances) Pigeon Forge, TN, Sheila Lewis Sternberg (Allen Lee), Buford, GA and Pamela Lewis Haddix (John), Hudsonville, MI; also survived by ten great grandchildren and six great-great grandchildren. Services will be Thursday, July 19, 2012 at 2:00 PM at Jefferson Memorial Funeral Home. Visitation will be from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM at Jefferson Memorial. Burial will follow at Jefferson Memorial Gardens East. Dr. Roger Wilmore will be officiating over the services. Donation, In lieu of flowers may be made to the Deerfoot Baptist Church Mission Fund, c/o Deerfoot Baptist Church, 5450 Mount Olive Church Rd., Trussville, AL 35173. Jefferson Memorial Trussville directing.

Published in The Birmingham News from July 17 to July 18, 2012