Howard E. Pickett

Howard E. Pickett of Madison passed away July 31, 2013 at Madison Health and Rehab.  He was 91 years of age at the time of his death.  Mr. Pickett was born October 27, 1921 in Covington, GA, and was one of eight children.  He joined the Navy when he was 22 years old where he served in the Pacific Arena and Pearl Harbor.  Mr. Pickett married Betty Jo Pierce in 1943.  Betty Jo passed away in 1963.  He married Wilma Yancey Allison in 1965 and in 1972 they moved to Madison to be closer to his job at Gold Kist.  He instantly made his name known throughout the county because of his beautiful gospel singing.  Shortly after moving to Morgan County, Howard and Wilma joined the Beacon Heights Baptist Church.  Mr. Pickett sang the Star Spangled Banner at Braves games, performed at Cultural Center Follies and many other places. Mr. Pickett will be remembered as a loving family man.  He was preceded in death by his first wife, Betty Jo (Pierce) Pickett; granddaughter, Lisa Jo Batchelor; great-granddaughter, Makiya Kitchens; and parents, Denny Dane (Edwards) and James Elbert Pickett.

 

Mr. Pickett is survived by his wife, Wilma Pickett of Madison; daughters-and sons-in-law, Jeanne and Jack Parkman of Buford; Becky Wages, Toby Armour, Luan and Tony Hardeman, all of Madison; sons and daughter-in-law, Denny F. Pickett of Monroe, Tony and Linda Allison of Covington; grandchildren, Destiny Mirenda, Terry Hawkins, Dee Ann Hawkins, June Armour, Tiffany Marks, Patton Wages, Cristi Thacker, Sami Jo Jenkins, Brittany Rae Jones, Brandon Pickett, Ashley Pickett, Evonne Pickett, Donna Sims, Lindsey Kitchens, Libby Anderson; as well as 19 great-grandchildren.

 

Funeral Services for Mr. Pickett will be held at 2:00 P.M., Friday, August 2, 2013, at Caldwell & Cowan Funeral Home, 1215 Access Road, in Covington, with Rev. Bob Norton officiating.  Interment will follow in Lawnwood Memorial Park.  The family will receive friends at the funeral home, Thursday, August 1, from 6:00 – 8:00 P.M.