Jon Remembered...
Jon Clarence Howard, affectionately known as Pokie to his family and friends, was born the second of six children on March 31, 1960 to the late James Edward Howard and Geneva Collier Howard. On March 14, 2014, while visiting his aunt, Peggy Jewel Howard, in San Antonio, Texas, Pokie was called home to be with the Lord.
Jon was raised in the southwest Atlanta area, and was a student in the Atlanta Public School system, until he graduated from Sylvan Hills High School in 1979. Soon after graduation, Jon enlisted in the United States Army. This is where his adventure began.
He served his country in various locations in the United States and abroad. He went to boot camp in Fort Knox, Kentucky and was later stationed at Fort Mead, Maryland. During his time in Maryland he fathered a son, Travon Cedric Taylor. After Travon was born, Jon was transferred to Germany. Jon was discharged shortly after he completed his assignment in Germany.
Jon took various employment opportunities throughout the years, and decided to move to New York, where he successfully pursued a degree in counseling. During this time in New York, Jon affiliated himself with the Union Baptist Church in Brooklyn and lived through the September 11th attacks. It was here that he was ordained as a deacon and was active in many capacities, while in New York.
Jon began his spiritual journey at Enon Baptist Church. Here, he confessed his faith in Christ and was baptized. He served faithfully as an usher for many years. Because of his carefree nature, many never knew the depth of Jon’s faith and his familiarity with the scriptures. He thoroughly enjoyed reflecting on the relevance of the Word and could talk for hours about what he saw in the scriptures and how it applied to him.
Those who knew Jon understood that he was a free spirit, and enjoyed his outgoing personality, and infectious laugh. He had ideas and desires to go and see things that were unfamiliar to him. He wouldn’t let others in on what he was contemplating, but would just vanish from time to time. He lived by the “just do it” philosophy. He did not try to argue or convince others to see his dream; he simply followed them for himself.
Pokie voluntarily gave up his freedom to care for his grandparents for many years. This was the longest period of his adult life that he stayed in one place. His family is forever grateful for the sacrifices he made to keep his late grandparents, Grandaddy and Granny, together under the same roof that they shared for so many years.
Jon Clarence Howard was preceded in death by his parents and his grandparents: Charlie Collier, Sr., Elsie Boyd, Ned Howard, and Rebie Lee Howard. He leaves behind one son, Travon Cedric Taylor, a daughter-in-law, Quannetta Taylor, and four grandchildren: Dominic Taylor, Brianna Taylor, Travon Taylor, Jr., and Quan Taylor. In addition to a host of aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends, Pokie will be missed by his siblings: Jimmy (Bobbie Jo) Howard, Pamela (Alphonso) Graham, Jeffrey Howard, Patricia (Kelvin) King, and Jarral (Jennifer) Howard.