Virginia Black Howard, 90, of Champaign, IL passed away March 21, 2011 at her home. Born July 4, 1920 in Lambert, Mississippi, to W.H.and Mamie Partee Black, Virginia and her family moved to Memphis, Tennessee in 1922. After attending Snowden Elementary, Tech High, MSCW, and Memphis State, Virginia met William James Howard, Jr. while both were working at DuPont. They married May 1, 1943. Bill III was born in 1947, Anne in 1949, and Bob in 1954. Bill Jr., a chemist for HumKo Oil Company, was transferred to Champaign, Illinois in 1957. After her husband's death in 1976, Virginia helped care for other family members in their homes. She enjoyed listening to all kinds of music, and could always be counted on to deliver an accurate play-by-play of each St. Louis Cardinals game. In addition to her sons in Champaign and her daughter in Memphis, she leaves her son-in-law Edward Dirmeyer, nieces Lane Greener and Peggy Copen, and great-nieces Holly Hawkins, Casey Copen, and Erin Copen. Graveside services will be held in Lawrence Cemetery, Mt. Pleasant, Tennessee at a later date. Cremation rites have been accorded.

  Information compiled by Mary Bob McClain Richardson 18 Apr 2015