Born on August 16, 1937, in Tuskegee, Alabama, Columbus Howard—affectionately known as Man-T, Howard, Long John, Colombo, MacGyver, and Mr. Fix-It—was the firstborn of Lizzie Lee Martin and Paul Howard. He was the eldest of five siblings and moved to Cleveland, Ohio, in 1944 with his mother and two sisters, where he would build a life defined by resilience, generosity, and unwavering faith..

He graduated from East Tech High School and began his working career delivering telegrams by bicycle. Later, he held positions at Huron Hospital and completed an apprenticeship at Warner & Swasey. His career flourished at Reliance Electric, later Rockwell Automation, where he served with distinction until retirement. Yet, staying idle never suited him, so he continued working as an independent contractor for Tremco until 2019.

On August 27, 1959, he married Anita Evans. Through their union, they were blessed with six children. Their first son, William Paul, passed away at just five months old—a loss they carried with grace and strength. He and Anita came to know Jehovah God through a study of the Bible and symbolized their dedication by water being baptized together on June 27, 1975, at the Divine Sovereignty District Convention in Cleveland, Ohio. His love for Jehovah was steadfast and evident in his joyful service at the Montville Kingdom Hall, where he warmly greeted friends and visitors. He had a special affection for children, always keeping candies in his pocket to share after meetings.

A gifted craftsman, he had a passion for working with his hands, especially on cars. If you had a vehicle issue, he was the one to call. He spent countless hours repairing and rebuilding cars for friends, family, and neighbors. He was an avid fan of NASCAR, drag racing, and funny cars. He cherished anniversary trips with Anita and close friends, dining at their favorite Japanese restaurant, hosting card games, fishing, and barbecuing, always with a joyful smile behind the grill. Their home was a hub of warmth and hospitality, where gatherings were filled with laughter, love, family, and friends.

He was a person of great integrity, always honest and trustworthy. He would always embrace life’s simple pleasures. Never one to shy away from hard work; always ready to fix whatever needed fixing. Each day began with his beloved “cup of mud”—his nickname for coffee—and if he didn’t get it at home, you could find him at the nearest McDonald’s enjoying a fresh cup.

Known for his kindness, humility, and generous spirit, he would literally give you the shirt off his back while sharing the comforting message of the Bible. He loved accompanying fellow brothers on Bible studies and was always eager to participate in Kingdom preaching. Over the years, he gained many spiritual sons, daughters, grandsons, and granddaughters, relationships he cherished deeply.

He is survived by his children: Kristopher Howard (Debra), Yolanda Joy Hardy, DeBorrah Nadine Tibbs (Kevin), Ronald Terrence Howard (Melodi) and Quintin Elliott Howard.

He was blessed with a host of grandchildren and great grandchildren. He is also survived by his sister, Catherine Anthony, and brother Alex Sparks Jr.

He was preceded in death by his son William Paul Howard, beloved wife Anita Magnolia Howard, mother Lizzie Lee Sparks, sister Druscilla Thompson, brother Curtis Sparks, and granddaughter Rashauna Lynn Tibbs. He leaves behind a host of nieces, nephews, and cherished relatives.

A man of deep faith, tireless generosity, and joyful service, he will be dearly missed and lovingly remembered.