"JOEL RAY HOWARD"
"BORN TO EARTH"
2~7~69
BORN TO HEAVEN
3~23~96
JOEL RAY HOWARD
Joel brought a “Ray” of Sunshine
to everyone’s life from the moment he was born.
He had a talent unknown to many; but those who knew him relished in that Talent along with him.
He was a wonderful son; he was unselfish and very giving,
always giving of himself to those he loved and those who loved him.
He was a big brother to many
especially to his only brother, Todd.
He always looked out for him and as they grew older
they became buddies as well as brothers.
Joel was very talented in many ways.
He utilized that Talent to bring joy and
happiness to others.
He set goals for himself and exceeded each and everyone,
always aiming for the TOP.
As a young boy, he played sports by his dad’s side,
football and baseball on the youth association.
Later he realized, that he wanted to do other things with his life.
He had dreams that stretched to New York
and vowed to go there someday.
He traveled many States with his talent of Dancing and Singing.
He won many awards and contests,
but the greatest gift he received was from God himself.
Joel had the voice of an “Angel” and those who heard it
felt they were listening to one as he often sang “Wind Beneath My Wings",
"I will Rise Again", and countless other songs.
We know he sings among the angels today and every time we hear the songs he sang,
we remember them with heart felt gratitude that
God allowed him to share the words with us.
He touched the lives of many; from young to old,
teaching them in clogging when he had his own dance studio,
and teaching young girls Jazz-Dance as he choreographed their routines.
He sang and danced numerous places, even at the Miss South Carolina Pageant.
Joel loved life and lived it to its fullest never realizing
that one day he would leave us, we felt that it was too soon,
but often times we don’t realize that even though our loved ones
are here with us for only a short time, they have created a
life time of memories to leave behind.
Today, we share the memories with loved ones and strangers,
those who knew him, had a friend for life and those
who didn’t wished they had the chance to know him.
Joel opened his own business and was successful in a way
that went beyond monetary value. He succeeded by
making people happy with themselves.
He had that magical touch when he styled your hair.
He was a hairdresser, but in reality it was his own artful creations
that made him successful.
Many tried to copy, but his talent was one of a kind.
He had a rare gift, the gift of life that he shared with many.
Often times, people were given their very own concert
as he practiced and tried out many tunes, making them his own.
Listening to him sing soothed your soul and touched your heart.
I will always remember Joel as a very outgoing and talented young man,
who gave to others joy and happiness,
as they became a part of his life.
His presence is missed by his loved ones,
family and friends, but all of us realize that
we will see him again,
Someday…
LETTER TO JOEL
you are the Angel that sings in Heaven.
As I remember the day that you became a part of my life in 1976,
I will never forget that it was a moment that brought us together
by chance but binded us together through our love for one another.
Although, we were not blood related,
we became family from the heart.
You were and always will be a special brother to me.
You always called me your big sister and I felt that I had known
you forever the day that I became a part of your family.
I miss you everyday, but everytime I hear
“Wind Beneath My Wings” playing on the radio,
I can still hear you singing it to me as
you did on my 30th birthday.
Joel was only with us for a very short time it seemed,
but we created together a lifetime
of memories that will live with in our hearts forever.
Joel, we all know that you did reach the “Stars”
after all and we know that God gave us a special gift
when he allowed us all to be a part of your life.
Nothing can replace the grief and heartache
that a parent feels with the loss of a child,
but in time,we all hope that together we can get
through the rough times until we meetagain…
I dedicate this page to you, Joel.
I know that you look down from Heaven
and Smile as we are all going on with our lives,
just know that it is not the same without you,
but we had you in our lives for a moment,
a moment that we will cherish always.
We will remember you as each special day passes,
your birth,and even your death, but what we will remember
the most is the happiness and love
that you brought to us all.
We love you and miss you, but as I said before,
I know that God took you home with him
for a reason and he allows us to cherish the memories you left behind,
in hopes that we will remember to always share that love
with each other, through good times and bad.
Some days are hard to get through,
but with our love of God and our hope of seeing you again SOMEDAY,
makes life a little easier somehow.
March 23, 1996 came too soon for a lot of us.
But if we look back at your accomplishments,
we will realize that you achieved more
in a very short time, than what it takes some of us a lifetime to do.
In loving memory of Joel Ray Howard.
By Patty D. Sanders
A sister by chance,
A friend by choice…
Written with love, for our mother,
(that God allowed us to share)
July 10, 2002
