Laura Dellar Pearl Howard was called to heaven on Saturday, April 11, 2020. She was the youngest of seven children born to Ulas Isadore Pearl Sr. and Mary West Pearl. Her parents, her husband, James Elmer Howard Sr., her son, Leonard Howard, and five siblings: Otis Pearl, Lula May Pearl Reed, Ulas Isadore Pearl Jr., Annie Pearl Shannon, and Emma Pearl Williams, preceded her in death.

Laura accepted Christ at an early age, and she and her family were members of St. Paul Baptist Church, in Selma, AL.

Laura matriculated through the Dallas County School District in Selma and attended Hudson High School, but earned her high school diploma from Wendell Phillips High School in Chicago, IL. She also earned a certificate in Data Processing from Jones Commercial.

Laura met James Elmer Howard in 1946 during an amalgamated church Potluck, and it was love at first sight. According to Aunt I.D.(Irma D. Grace), "James and Laura were inseparable from day one. Two peas in a pod-kindred spirits. They had a storybook love-he was very dependable-he was a good man". The courtship began in 1948, which included dates in the sitting room under the watchful eye of her father, Ulas Isadore. Aunt I.D. chaperoned walks and visits to the malt shop, where in 1949, James told Laura he was going to marry her in the presence of his three brothers, Albert, Isaac, and Nathaniel Howard. On July 23, 1951, they united this love in Holy Matrimony.

Laura and James moved to Chicago, IL in May of 1953 with two children, James Jr., and Barbara Ann. Their union later produced four more children: Laurana Ann, a set of twins, Leonard and Leonora, and Bernard.

Laura became a widow on July 25, 1972 after the untimely passing of James, and although their love story was brief in the eyes of man-their love stood the test of time. Laura remained a widow until her death.

Laura and the late James Elmer Howard Sr. were members of Mt. Olive A.M.E. Church, Chicago, IL, under Reverends: Higginbottom, Southern, and Dunlap, where she served for many years as a member of the Gospel choir and on several committees.

In 1971, Laura was inducted into the Order of the Eastern Star, Charity Chapter No.112, and was crowned Grand Worthy Matron in 1980.

Later, Laura  joined Trinity United Church of Christ, Chicago, IL under the pastoral leadership of Rev. Jeremiah Wright, and finally, House of Prayer and Healing Apostolic Church, Chicago, IL, led by Pastor Arlene Farmer, where she served as Mother of the Church, and was affectionately known as "Mother Howard".

Laura worked as a United States Postal employee for 25 years until her retirement in 1999.

Laura leaves to cherish her memory, her adoring sister, Irma D. Grace (James) of Detroit, Michigan; her loving sisters-in-law, Thelma Jenkins and Edith Howard of Chicago, IL; her attentive children: James Elmer Howard Jr. (Marsha) of Country Club Hills, IL, Barbara Ann Howard Cottrell (James) of Chicago, IL, Laurana Ann Howard Leon (Juan) of Chicago, IL, Leonora Howard Falconer Grossley of Chicago, IL, and Bernard Rusty Howard of Chicago,IL; her amazing grandchildren: James Evans, Julian Elmer, Ida Mediah, Laurana Ann, Laura D., Lauren Barbara, Jeanine Nicole, Jillian La Shara, Leonard Ulas, and Joshua Raphael Bernard; her thoughtful great-grandchildren: Gianina, Daniel, Moriah, Micah Jr., Micah Jeanell, Jema, Liana, and Levia; and a plethora of doting nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends

Arrangements and care have been entrusted to Golden Gate Funeral Home, 2036 W. 79th Street, Chicago, IL  60620, 773-846-7900.

Funeral Services are private.