Gerry Howell

James & Sikes Funeral Home Maddox Chapel Bonnie Geraldine (Gerry) Helms Howell passed away Wednesday, July 18. Gerry, as she was affectionately known, entered heaven's gates still in a hurry, but now free of her arthritis and continuing with her normal sustained, determined but quite independence. She was preceded in death by her parents, Bob and Callie Helms, her brother, Bubba Don Helms and her sister, Virginia Helms Kelly. She is survived by her husband of 61 years, E. L. Howell, Jr., her daughter and son-in-law, Debra S. and Henry Mathews (Tallahassee), her son and daughter-in-law, Winston K. and Yvonne J. Howell (Tallahassee), four grandchildren, Christopher M. (Julie) Howell (Tallahassee), Jesecca L. (Lt. Col Jamie) Fernandez (Chantilly, Va), Nicholas Helms (Sarah) Howell (Athens, Ga) and Hunter Jackson Howell (Tallahassee) and four great grandchildren, Callie and Luke Fernandez (Va) and Makenna and Alexandra Howell (Tallahassee) as well as her sister, Mavis (Ronnie) Brunner (Marianna) and numerous other nieces and nephews. Her life was centered and revolved around her faith and family, especially her children and grandchildren and the love of her life, E. L. She met E.L. within two weeks of moving to Florida after he drove up on the sidewalk to get her attention. She kept his attention and devotion for over 61 years. She was a great wife, mother, Granny and friend to many, and really enjoyed her Christian family at Trinity Baptist Church where she taught Sunday school for over 40 years as well as sang in the choir for over 50 years. She and EL enjoyed visiting others especially the "elderly or shut-ins" where she enjoyed delivering one of her many homemade from scratch, pound cakes or pumpkin or pecan pies! She loved to cook, especially baking, but mostly cooking or making anything that put a smile on someone else's face. Funeral will be at Trinity Baptist, Saturday, July 21 at 10 a.m. with burial following at Pinecrest Memorial Gardens. Rev. Roland Rabon will officiate and James & Sikes Funeral Home Maddox Chapel will direct. Family will receive friends on Friday, July 20 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Trinity Baptist Church. In lieu of flowers, Gerry would have preferred any contributions to be made to either the building fund or general fund at Trinity Baptist Church.