WALTER HOWARD

Walter was the first of Green and Rebecca Howard’s children to move to Detroit. He and his wife Ida (the former Ida Chapman) made their way to the city during the early years of the migration of African Americans to northern cities seeking a better life. They were married on Dec. 10, 1916.

He was born in Bolingbroke, GA, on Oct. 15, 1891, and was a member of Mount Zion Baptist Church.

Walter registered for the draft in June 1917 at age of 21 (his birthdate is listed on the registration form as Oct. 17, 1895 and on the service document as Oct. 8) near the end of World War I. In August 1918, he was inducted into the segregated Army into 22^nd Company at Camp Wheeler, just outside Macon, until Sept. 6, 1918. He was discharged as a private on Jan. 23, 1919. The camp officially closed in April 1919, five months after the war ended.

The 1920 Census shows him living in Detroit. He opened a grocery store in the city and watched as the business flourished. Walter was a successful businessman in the city until his retirement in 1960.

“Uncle Walter,” as he was called by his nieces and nephews, at one time owned and operated three grocery stores. He was an astute entrepreneur, being the first and only black businessman to operate in the newly constructed and federally funded housing project called Brewster Projects.

He joined the Church of God in Christ at 1420 Clinton Street in Detroit under Elder Isaiah Winans. He was sanctified and filled with the Holy Ghost.

His sister Elizabeth was also a member of the church, which evolved into Zion Congressional (Congregational) Church of God in Christ. 

In 1947 he joined the Hartford Street Church of God in Christ under Bishop U.E. Miller, and was later appointed assistant pastor. He served his pastor dutifully and loyally as an assistant until he was called by the Lord to do mission work for the saving of souls. He established his own church in 1948.

Also that year, Ida died. They had no children. In 1949, he married Hazel Moss.

Walter’s health began to deteriorate, and he was forced to dissolve his church and business. In 1968, he joined New Canaan Church of God in Christ pastored by his nephew and namesake the Rev. Walter L. Howard Sr.

“When I was born,” Rev. Howard said, “he was permitted to name me, which he did, after himself. We were very close. I sometimes lived with him and worked for him. At one time I owned and operated a grocery store myself.”

Walter loved the Lord and was an ardent student of the Bible. He was a loyal and faithful worker, and an excellent Bible teacher who loved to pray. He was a man full of faith. His favorite songs were “Even Me,” “I Love Him” and “I’m Going to Trust in the Lord.”

He died of a stroke on Sept. 23, 1970, at 3:25 p.m. in Sinai Hospital, leaving behind his beloved Hazel. They had no children.