Bessie Cobb Howard

Bessie Etta Cobb Howard, Ph.D., a matriarch of the Howard and Cobb families, passed away peacefully on July 27, 2025, just shy of her 96th birthday, in Vienna, Virginia. Dr. Howard was born on August 12, 1929 in Louisville, Kentucky as the second child of James Blaine Cobb, a prominent union attorney, and Leona Marie Cobb, the former matriarch of the Cobb clan in Washington, D.C. Dr. Howard was raised in D.C, where she graduated as valedictorian at Dunbar High School in 1947. She enrolled at Antioch College to earn a bachelor's degree in mathematics, and was selected for a post-graduate program in Chicago, where she subsequently earned her master's degree at the University of Illinois.

Dr. Howard met her soulmate, Don Edwin Howard, while they were both assisting Polish immigrants at a settlement house in Chicago. In 1953, Dr. Howard married Don to form a loving, fearless and impregnable union that lasted more than 59 years and produced six children. In 1962, Dr. Howard returned to D.C. with her family to begin a stellar career as a math teacher at Cardozo High School and a curriculum development specialist for the D.C. Public Schools. While Don became a Methodist minister, Dr. Howard earned her doctorate degree at The Union Graduate School with a thesis on preparing teachers for effective education strategies in inner-city schools.

In 1972, Dr. Howard accepted a position in program development with the Howard University Teacher Corps. In 1975, she became a university professor of education and the Director of Teacher Corps. In 1982, Dr. Howard continued her career with the D.C. Public Schools by directing programs and resources. She eventually retired from the public school system, but she also served several other agencies and entities as an independent consultant in organization and program development, teacher training, education, and interpersonal relationships.

Dr. Bessie C. Howard was predeceased by her devoted husband, Rev. Don E. Howard; her brother, James W. Cobb, Esq., her sister, Joan Cobb, Ph.D., and an infant son, Mark David Howard. Dr. Howard is survived by five children: John Edwin Howard, James Ward Howard, Judith Rebecca Howard, Jenifer Marie Howard Nalli, and Janette Vivian Howard Gillis; their spouses: Sharon Effatt Howard, Dennis P. Nalli, and H. Kevin Gillis; 11 grandchildren: Leif, Kyle, Priya, Ryan, Julian, Maya, Darion, Joseph, Danielle, Ariya, and Lena; and 12 great-grandchildren. Dr. Howard is also mourned by her extended family, friends, and many others who enjoyed her guidance, spirit, and love.

The Celebration of Life for Dr. Howard will be held Saturday, August 30, 2025 at 1:00pm. A light reception will be held immediately following: Unitarian Universalist Church of Silver Spring, 10309 New Hampshire Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20903

In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Dr. Howard may be made to the Southern Poverty Law Center, www.splcenter.org