Carmen Howard

Carmen Michelle Howard was born on September 17, 1962 in Dayton, Ohio where she resided for the entirety of her life. A great cook and a soulfood queen, Carmen was very nurturing for she loved spending quality time with her loving daughter, each of her many grandchildren and siblings. Loving all family gatherings, she soared through life, living it to the total measure of fullness. Very devout in her faith, she attended without fail, the First Baptist Church of Ridgewood Heights on Hanover Ave. Carmen was never one to hold back, she honestly let everyone know what she felt and cared about. 

Carmen departed this life at the age of 57 on Thursday, February 20, 2020 after a lengthy illness. She will be missed by all. 
She is preceded in death by her mother Henrietta Howard, siblings Larry and Fred Byrd, grandparents Effie and Sylvester Byrd, Uncle Percy (Merlene) Kirksey and a special aunt, Mary Byrd. 

She is survived by her father Oliver (Helen) Howard, daughter Carmella (Eric) Debrill, grandchildren Erica, Jamar, Erin, Eriel and Allant’e, great grandchildren Brandon and Lyric, four sisters Keisha Jackson, Pleshette Howard, Donella Owens and Robin Owens, brothers Gary Howard, Shawn Howard and Todd Rutlidge, uncle Herman (Juanita) Boyd, a very special cousin Mary “Puddin” Byrd and a very special friend Michelle Hobbs. 

A Special Note to “Mama” – To know Carmen was to know she was never short on praise. She often told everyone of her deep appreciation of the tender love and care she received over her lifetime from Mama, Effie Byrd and Reva “Brina” Lyttle…. two were who not her mother but mothered her if they were. 
If Carmen were here today, she would give special tribute to Mama whom she regarded as the most strong-willed, most amazing, and most caring person for she raised eight “Hanover Babies.” None were hers, but all are still alive and well. Carmen learned from Mama to have a heart as big as heaven and a soul that reached infinity. 
 

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