Descendants of Green & Rebecca Howard
In 1988, the Howard Family Macon published a newspaper titled “Generations: A Special Look at the Past and Future of the Howard Family.” It told the story of Green and Rebecca Howard, their children and other descendants. This website contains articles and photos from that newspaper, as well as additional documents, photos and information, some of them extending beyond 1988.
Website produced by Sherry L. Howard, granddaughter of Alonzo Howard.
GREEN & REBECCA HOWARD
To the younger generations, Green and Rebecca Howard are shadows of a distant past. To their grandchildren, they are a blurred memory.
Historical records paint a sketchy picture of a man and woman who were born during slavery, got married soon after Reconstruction – and remained married for 17 years – and had eight children. Census records from 1900 show that Green was born in April 1852 and Rebecca in March 1855. Green’s parents were both from Georgia, and he was born there.
THEIR HISTORICAL PATH
THEIR CHILDREN
HOWARD ELDERS TALK ABOUT THE FAMILY'S HISTORY
RECOLLECTION OF AN AUDIO INTERVIEW
Oliver Howard, son of Guss Howard, interviews Obie Howard, son of Green Howard, about a frightening experience during O.B.’s childhood.
VIDEO
Video conversation with Corine Simmons, daughter of Obie Howard Sr., and Jeannette Davis, daughter of Guss Howard, conducted by Jon Davis Jr., Jeannette’s son.
HOWARD FAMILY REUNIONS - 1980-2023
Reunions were held during the third weekend in July.
1980 – Macon, GA
1981 – Macon, GA
1985 –
Cincinnati, OH
1986 – Detroit, MI
| 1987 – Atlanta, GA |
| 1988 – Philadelphia, PA |
| 1989 – Macon, GA |
| 1990 – Chicago, IL |
| 1991 – New Orleans, LA |
| 1992 – Macon, GA |
| 1993 – Washington, DC |
| 1994 – Detroit, MI |
| 1995 – Cincinnati, OH |
| 1996 – Myrtle Beach, SC |
| 1997 – Tampa, FL |
Map shows cities where family members lived.
| 1998 – Atlanta, GA |
| 1999 – Philadelphia, PA |
| 2000 – Macon, GA |
| 2005 – Macon, GA |
| 2006 – Washington, DC |
| 2007 – Detroit, MI |
| 2008 ?? |
| 2015 – Atlanta, GA |
| 2016 – Memphis, TN |
| 2017 – New Orleans, LA |
| 2023 – Detroit, MI |
Reunions were also held in cities where no family members lived.
OUR TUSKEGEE AIRMAN – CHARLES W. HOWARD
Charles W. Howard joined the U.S. Army on Jan. 15, 1945, and was discharged Jan. 27, 1947.
“During World War II, all you needed was good health and a high school diploma. You didn’t find many college men. You didn’t have to have all those sophisticated computers. It was simple during World War II.”
He was one of the famous “Tuskegee Airmen” of the 332nd Fighter Group at Tuskegee Army Airfield (Tuskegee, AL) who trained to be a pilot.
“Whites had AT-6, the better planes. Blacks had the Piper Cubs. We never had the new planes. We had the hand-me-downs. When they would build some new planes they’d send them to the whites at the other bases and the Negroes would get the old ones.”
The 332nd, made up of several fighter squadrons and other personnel, escorted heavy bombers during raids in Europe. They had remarkable successes fending off attackers. The 332nd became known as the “Red Tails” after they painted the tails of their planes the color red. Between 1941 and 1946, about 1,000 Black pilots were trained at Tuskegee. World War II ended before Charles saw any combat.
“Flying an airplane was like driving a car, if you had the nerve and could stand the altitude,” said Charles.
When the pilot program was discontinued in December 1945, Charles served one year of duty as a staff sergeant in Europe.
“Blacks were still at Tuskegee. They didn’t mix until the month I came out, January 1947. That’s when they started moving blacks into white units.”
The U.S. armed services were officially desegregated in 1948.
Charles’ niece Sherry L. Howard offers a tribute to him and the Tuskegee Airmen.
OUR FAMILY MINISTER – REV. WALTER L. HOWARD SR.
Twice in his life, Walter L. Howard Sr. felt the touch of the Lord.
The first time was in 1938. He was 14 years old and was attending a revival conducted by Elder Charlie Walker at the Caniff Street Church of God in Christ in Detroit.
“I accepted Jesus Christ as my personal savior and was filled with the Holy Ghost,” he recalled.
The same strong feelings came over him in 1953, at age 29, during a revival conducted by national evangelist Elder Johnny Mills at Jones Temple Church of God in Christ.
TRIBUTES / REMEMBRANCES
HOWARD FAMILY ENTREPRENEURS
Charles W. Howard
Howard Janitorial Service
Macon, GA
For 10 years, Charles W. Howard worked for a janitorial service in Macon as a supervisor before he decided that he could do the job himself under his own name. Now, he owns Howard Janitorial Service, which has four employees and is contracted to clean two school buildings and two other buildings.
John W. Goolsby
Metro Realty Inc.
Macon, GA
As a child, John Goolsby dreamed of being an entrepreneur – of owning a children’s clothing store. As he grew older, his dream changed; he got into sales and realized that he had finally found his niche. For three years, he sold life insurance. For another three years, he sold real estate. The latter field fit him as snug as a sock, and in May 1985, he opened his own real estate company.
Willie Floyd Howard
Howard Construction Co.
Cincinnati, OH
For almost 30 years, Willie Floyd Howard worked for someone else. Now, he’s working for himself.
Three years ago, he opened his own construction company, offering cement and remodeling work. His daughter, Karen, performs secretarial duties. He operates the company out of his home.
Kenneth H. Clark
C.I.S.A. Professional Services Inc.
Detroit, MI
By the time he turns 40, Kenneth H. Clark wants to be a millionaire.
It’s the dream of many an entrepreneur. But Clark, 38, has been able to move ahead quite forcefully. A self-motivated man, he has spent the last 11 years turning a corporation with only one company into one that has five.
Oliver Howard, Guschar Company, Detroit, MI.
Earlier family entrepreneurs were Guss Howard and Walter Howard, who owned grocery stores in Detroit. Alonzo Howard owned a farm and property in Bibb County, GA, at a time and in a state when it was difficult for most Black people to possess either.
HOWARD FAMILY PORTRAITS
Howard Family Reunion, Philadelphia, PA, 1988.
Howard Family Reunion, Macon, GA, 2000.