On Friday, October 15, 2010, James Russell Howard departed this life at the University of Maryland Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland and entered into eternal peace.

Jimmy, as he was more affectionately called, was born May 7, 1955 in Washington D.C., to the late Eugene Howard and the late Rose Doniver Howard.

He graduated from Lackey High School in 1973 and shortly thereafter joined the United States Navy on May 25, 1975. He served as a "Mineman" handling rigging and disposing of explosive ordnance. While in the Navy, Jimmy attended the University of South Carolina and majored in Electronics Engineering. The Navy assigned him to Greece for a year, and then reassigned him back to South Carolina where he stayed until the end of his tour of duty and was discharged on July 12, 1977. Jimmy eventually moved from South Carolina to Dallas, Texas where he worked at one of the area hospitals until he moved back to Maryland.

Jimmy enjoyed life. He loved to work on cars; his or anyone else's and did so until he injured his back. He also had a passion for music (the louder the better). A part of working on cars also included installing many, many stereo systems.

He was a kind and giving person often providing taxi service to the grocery store and doctor visits for some of the sick senior citizens. He spent years driving his mother to doctor appointments and to the store where he would patiently wait for her while she talked sometimes for two hours; he just stood and waited. His sisters were extremely grateful because he was the one with the most patience.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his grandmother, Ruth Keys Doniver, grandfather, John David Doniver, uncles; Reginald Doniver and John William Doniver; aunts, Mary Frances Ward, Hazel Harris and his infant nephew, Anthony "Prince" Doniver Hunt.

He leaves to cherish his memories three sisters; Treasa Doniver Carter, Judy Doniver and Jana Simpson; one great aunt, Mrs. Nanette Carson, one niece, Michelle Doniver, three nephews; George (Willie) Savoy, Jr. Walter (Mannie) Dyson II and Michael (Mikey) Burns, two great nephews, D'Andre'(Gump) Savoy and Tre'Von Dyson, one great niece, Amaya Dyson and a host of family and friends. He also shared his life with Eliza Baronas, his partner of 20 years.

Viewing, Friday, October 22, 2010 8:30am until 9:30am in the Chapel of THORNTON Funeral Home, P.A., 3439 Livingston Road, Indian Head, Maryland and from 10am until Mass of Christian Burial, 11am at St. Mary Star of the Sea Catholic Church, 30 Mattingly Avenue, Indian Head, Maryland. Interment, St. Charles Cemetery, Glymont, Maryland.

Arrangements entrusted to THORNTON Funeral Home, P.A., Indian Head, Maryland.