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A family mourns its matriarch

Lucy Howard, 59, encouraged everyone she knew to put God first. A holiday weekend crash claimed her life Monday.

By EILEEN SCHULTE
Published December 2, 2005

Lucy Howard's last Thanksgiving had been just as she wanted it, with her family around her.

At least 50 members of the clan had gathered for the festive holiday meal at the home of one of Howard's 13 children.

After they finished eating, the beloved matriarch, who had 27 grandchildren and a great-grandchild, gave her traditional speech about how important it is to put God first in their lives.

The next afternoon, she dropped one of her sons off at his house and was on her way back to her home in Clearwater. Largo police say she rolled past a stop sign and was broadsided by a 2001 GMC Safari.

Howard, 59, was flown to Tampa General Hospital, where she died Monday.

The family was still in shock Thursday.

"She was a beautiful woman," said Marlon Howard, 29, sitting next to a white artificial Christmas tree in the living room of his mother's home. "She had a heart. If you only knew her."

According to police, Steve Motyl, 41, was driving south on Ridge Road with nine people, including seven children, to buy the family Christmas tree when he hit Howard.

The impact knocked Howard's 1997 Chevy Venture van on its side and trapped Howard underneath.

Sgt. George Edmiston said an investigation showed she was not wearing her seat belt and was partially ejected from the vehicle.

If she had been wearing a seat belt, the accident probably "would have been survivable," he said.

But her family doubts the police findings.

"I know she had her seat belt on," said Marlon Howard, adding he also doesn't believe she ran the stop sign. "She always took caution."

Howard was born Aug. 1, 1946, in Okeechobee, Fla., and dropped out of school at 14 to have her first child.

She married John Howard Sr., and at 35, went back to school to take the GED test.

She became a director of a day care center, but still wanted to do more with her life, said her daughter, Pam Howard, 39.

She went back to school and then became a corrections officer, first for the Sheriff's Office in Okeechobee County and then at a prison in Pembroke Pines.

Through her work she tried to help bring others, especially those incarcerated, closer to God.

"She took time with street people and junkies," said Marlon Howard. "She always tried to help them."

Said Pam Howard: "She would say, "I dare you to try Jesus, I double dare you."' Everything that could come up in life, Jesus could solve it."

After she retired, she moved to Clearwater in the 1996.

She remained married to John Howard Sr., although the couple was separated.

She joined Christ Church of Universal Love in Largo "and always served her God," said Marlon Howard.

"She was so unselfish and kind and loving," said Pam Howard. "She wanted everyone to get their soul right with God. That was her purpose in life."

A service will be held on Dec. 10 in Okeechobee.

--Eileen Schulte can be reached at or schulte@sptimes.com or 727 445-4153.

[Last modified December 2, 2005, 01:14:18]