Ruth Jean Howard

Ruth Jean Howard, 88 of Lubbock, Texas went home to glory on Monday, October 7, 2024. Celebration of Life Service will be held Saturday, October 19, 2024. at 11 am at Bethel AME.Church. Interment will follow at Peaceful Gardens Cemetery under the direction of Griffin Mortuary. Visitations will be held Friday, October 18, 2024 at Griffin Mortuary from 4 pm to 6pm. Ruth was born on June 23rd, 1936, to Myrtle Wright and Leslie Watson, Sr. in Lubbock, Texas. Ruth attended LISD school and graduated from Dunbar High School. November 8, 1954, Ruth married Troy Howard, Jr. and to this union five children completed their family.

Ruth worked for National Linen Service approximately 10 years and then Villa Sonora Apartments until retirement. 

Ruth was a Christian woman, who loved God to the fullest. She came into the house of God praising, singing, dancing, and clapping her hands, giving God his due praise. She loved being among the saints and would shout Hallelujah so loud it would shake your very core, and her praise line was “God Bless You”… that was our mama, the family’s Big mama!

Ruth was loved by many, she was known as Aunt Ruth Jean, Mrs. Howard, Sister Howard, granny, Ruthie, mother, mama, and Mrs. Ruth. Her spirit was kind, loving, and humble. She loved to go out and eat and had a great appetite. Her hobby was her picture books and she prepared many, her planned goal was to leave them to her children and all the generations of her grandchildren. Her legacy and what she taught us will live on in us forever…Her Love!

                                                                                               R.I.H. Mama/Big Mama

Ruth is preceded in death by her husband Troy Howard, Jr., her son Roy Lee Howard, her mother and father Myrtle and Sam Wright, biological father Leslie Watson, Sr., her daughter Eva L. Mooreing Mims, her granddaughter Alana E. Howard, her brother, Oscar “O.W.” Wright, her sisters Namoi Maden, Minnie Bell Travenia, Carrie Emma Russell, Barbara Carol Watson, and Angela M. Watson, her son-in-law Horace Cleavland, Jr.

Ruth is survived by her daughters Glenda Faye Cleavland of Lubbock, TX and Imesia Joyce Cleavland (Greg Lewis) of Plano, TX, her sons Elston “Troy” Howard (Genette) of Lubbock, TX, and Christopher James (Shay Woodard) of Plano, TX, her sister Althia Watson, her stepmother Claudine Watson of Ft. Worth, TX, her brothers Leslie Watson, Jr., Lester Carl Watson (Decia), and Carlos L. Watson (Chanovia) all of Ft. Worth, TX, her 11 grandchildren, 40 great grandchildren, 47 great-great grandchildren, and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.