Lila Ruth Spires Howard

Lila Ruth Spires Howard passed away April 9, 2023, at the age of 89. Funeral services are planned for 11:00 AM on Thursday, April 13, from the chapel of Hancock Funeral Home, 427 S. Lee St. with Sister Mandy Fuller Barr officiating. Interment will follow in Lebanon Cemetery. The family will receive friends on Wednesday, April 12, at Hancock Funeral Home between the hours of 5:30 and 7:00 PM. Born June 4, 1934, in Clayton, Alabama, Mrs. Howard was the daughter of the late Lucille and William Spires. She was a graduate of Plains High School, having moved with her family to Plains, Georgia, at a young age. She and her husband, the late Billy Mack Howard, lived in New Jersey much of their adult lives, where Mrs. Howard worked in accounting and accounts payable with W.T. Grant Company and Carter-Wallace. Upon retirement, they moved back to Plains. In addition to her husband, Mrs. Howard was preceded in death by a son, Michael, and a grandson, Adam Patrick Howard. She is survived by two sons, James Howard (Marie) of Florida and Steven Howard of Plains; a sister, Sybil Carter, of Plains; seven grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, and several cousins, nieces and nephews. For those desiring to do so, memorial contributions may be made to Sumter Humane Society, 108 Industrial Blvd., Americus, GA 31719 or online at sumterhumanesociety.org. To sign our online guestbook and express your condolences to the family, please visit www.hancockfuneralhomeinc.com Hancock Funeral Home, 427 S. Lee St., is honored to be entrusted with these arrangements for Mrs. Lila Howard.