Janet Lee Howard, 92, on August 6, 2026, took the Lords hands as an angel for her journey to heaven.

Janet was born on May 20, 1934, in Romney, West Virginia to Hubert and Gordon Keister. She was born premature and the doctor had told her parents he would be back to sign the death certificate the following day. Her grandmother was born in Norway and put her in a dresser drawer with warm linens to survive.

Janet met the love of her life James (Jim) Howard in high school, and the story was that Jim told all the boys not to mess with her as he planned on her being his before he even talked to her. Janet and Jim moved to Tarboro with 2 sons in 1970 from Maryland as Jim was instrumental in starting up Black and Decker in Tarboro.

Janet was preceded in death by her husband, James (Jim) Howard; sons, Keith (Sarge) Howard; her parents; and 2 sisters, Joetta Armacost of Ohio and Frieda Powers of Southern Pines; and daughter-in-law, Kay Scott Howard.

She is survived by her son, Scott Howard, who along with Scott’s wife Kay were caregivers for her after her husband’s passing in 2015. She was a proud grandmother of 3, Christian Danielle Fulford, Heather Davis; and Joseph Bryant; great grandmother of 12; great great grandmother of 2 with another 2 (twins) due in December.

There will be no services per her wishes. The family would like to thank ECU Health Edgecombe Hospital ICU Unit and all the doctors and nurses, as well as Gentiva Hospice Care, for making her final days as comfortable as possible.