John Hollis Howell

John Hollis Howell, age 95, of Pinson, AL, passed into the arms of the Heavenly Father on Monday, April 28, 2025. Family and friends knew him as Johnny.

Johnny was born on September 12, 1929, in Birmingham Al. He was preceded in death by his wife and love of his life, Bettye Burson Howell. He was also preceded in death by his parents, his mother Edith C. Farmer and step-father William A. Farmer, his father Hollis (Hank) B. Howell and step-mother Eleanor R Howell, and preceded in death by his brothers Bill Farmer and Robert Farmer.

He is survived by his son, Del Howell (Robin) of Gulf Shores, and by his daughter, Hollye Howell of Birmingham. He is also survived by 6 grandchildren: Alison Steineker (Will) of Vestavia Hills, Ashley Emmons (Justin) of Gulf Shores, Melissa Paquette of Vestavia Hills, and Patrick Howell (Erin) of Mountain Brook, Brady Howell and Mason Howell, both of Gulf Shores, AL. He is also survived by his sister, Fay Farmer, by his brother, Mike Howell (Trish), and by 10 wonderful great grandchildren whom he loved, along with wonderful cousins, nephews and nieces.

Johnny was raised in Birmingham, Al., where he had a caring family. It was tough economic times, but he found that he loved and excelled in sports. After attending Ensley High School, he would play football at Auburn, Howard College (Samford) and finished up at Jackson State University.

During college Johnny met Bettye Burson. Bettye was attending Howard College in Birmingham, where she would become Miss Alabama. Johnny and Bettye dated, fell in love and eventually married.

After graduation from college, Dad sought to be an educator and a coach. Over the next 30 years Coach Johnny Howell made a significant difference in many of the communities around the Birmingham area, and made a difference in the lives of thousands of students and their families. You could not go anywhere without someone wanting to come over to shake his hand, or to sit down to talk for a moment. It is a testament to his life as an educator, coach and principal - head coach at Woodlawn High School, principal at Banks High School, the first principal at Vestavia Hills High School (beginning the school), and wrapping up his career as principal at Pinson Valley High School.

Johnny and Bettye would later retire in the Cumberland Lake community in the Pinson area, just outside of Birmingham. There he would enjoy his family (kids, grandkids, brothers, sisters, nieces and nephews) and enjoyed being with his multitude of friends. He had a huge passion for golf.

He took an active part in the community and was a driving force in charitable work and scholarship efforts for young students.

Johnny would lose the love of his life, Bettye, in March of 2024, after 72 years of marriage. Even so, he continued to thrive until just very recently. He will be terribly missed, and certainly never forgotten.