Janice B Howard - Biography

Janice B. Howard, a product of Worthing High School, University of Houston School of Business and Continuing Education Real Estate School now serves as President and co-owner of Houston Memorial Gardens, Inc.

Janice began her career with Houston Memorial Gardens, Inc. as a part time employee and after three years increased hours to full time status. A few years later became the office manager and served in that position for approximately ten years. Opportunities presented her the chance to serve as manager of all operations (office, collections, grounds, accounts receivable and payable).

The chance to purchase the company came the first time in the early eighties. That offer was made to four employees. Because of varying ideas this attempt to purchase failed. In 1993 after having served as manager in general for a number of years, the then owner asked if there was still an interest in buying the business. After much discussion, she and her husband, Bonnie Howard, Sr. decided that this was indeed the right thing to do. Not only was this to be done for ownership purposes, but also for humanitarian reasons, Houston Memorial Gardens, would also be the only major independently-owned cemetery in the city predominately serving the minority community. The multi-million dollar contract was signed and sealed in March 1994.

Since the date of closing the number of employees have grown 20%, (in many cases employing young men who could not be given the chance to get their lives back in order by other companies). Through various land purchases the company has grown 23% in the last eight years. The company also works with area high schools in conjunction with the various work programs for students.

Houston Memorial Gardens, Inc. has also enjoyed the ever increasing support of the Houston Area Funeral Directors, thusly seeing an increase of 36% in funeral servicing during a time period in which many conglomerates are seeing major declines. We now work with multi racial families of varied nationalities and cultures.

Co-owning a company of this magnitude (statistics show there to be only two such minority independently owned cemeteries of this type and size in the entire United States), Janice still finds time to serve as a board member for the YMCA South Central, Martin Luther King Center, Neighborhood Center, Inc. and until a recent move served as an active member of the Andover-Southview Civic Center Club. Janice also chairs the United Negro College Fund Telethon Gala while concurrently chairing the Young Black Achiever’s Award Banquet for the last thirteen years. In 1999 Janice became a licensed insurance agent in the state of Texas.

In March 2000, Janice was selected as a “Super Achiever” for the South Central YMCA. In January 2002 nominations were made to the Governor of Texas for a position to be filled on the Texas Funeral Service Commission Board. These nominees came from the cemetery industry of over 200 perpetual care cemeteries throughout the state. After applications were filed and interviews held, in April 2002 Janice received the call that she had been selected to the position for a term of six years, an overwhelming moment indeed. Now serving as the only African American on this commission.

Janice is a member of Word of Restoration Christian Fellowship in Fresno, Texas under the leadership of Pastor Charles E. Perry and his beautiful wife, Minister Charlette Perry, where she serves on the Harvest Ministry and also on the Board of Council.

Though listed last, most important is her love of God and family, nothing supersedes them. Janice gives all praises to God, loving and giving parents and brothers, two fine sons and their families. Thanks many times over to her husband, Bonnie Howard, Sr. who along with her stepped out on faith…and won.

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