Jessie Lee Howell, 93, of Athens, died Monday morning, March 9, 2009, at NHC Health Care of Athens after a lengthy illness.

She was a member of North Athens Baptist Church, where she served as a Sunday school teacher for more than 50 years. She prepared the sacraments for the Lord's Supper for more than 25 years, and influenced many young ladies to become lifelong leaders in women's ministries. She attended Pleasant Hill Academy, where she cultivated her skills for baking and cooking. She was noted for entertaining her family and friends with delicious food. She was a hair dresser and owned Jessie Lee's Beauty Shop for 30 years. She was a devoted wife, loving mother, grandmother and friend. She was preceded in death by her husband of 56 years, Raymond H. Howell; two brothers, Ray Thomas Howell and William H. Howell; and her parents, Ray and Ovie Bussell Howell, formerly of Sparta.

Survivors include one daughter, Carole Whaley of Dalton, Ga.; one son and daughter-in-law, Jerry H. and Velva Howell of Athens; four grandchildren, Randy Dockins of Dalton, Ga., Todd and Michelle Howell of Manchester, Mark and Penny Howell of Georgetown, Ky., and Carol and Jimmy Brooks of Athens; eight great-grandchildren, Stephen Howell, Isabel Brooks, Elliott Brooks, Ryan Howell, Andrew Howell, Abby Howell, Allyson Howell and Olivia Howell; two step-grandchildren and their spouses, Carl and Nancy Whaley and Brenda and Bobby Cantrell, all of Dalton, Ga.; one brother, Kenneth Howell of Englewood; three sisters, Nellie Howell of Madisonville, Wilma Howell Boylin and Laverne Fuqua and her husband, Bryant, all of Nashville; four nieces, including one locally, Karen Burrell; one nephew; and great-nieces and great-nephews and many wonderful friends and caregivers, particularly those at NHC Health Care.

Funeral services will be 7 p.m. Tuesday in the chapel of Laycock-Hobbs Funeral Home. Burial will be Wednesday in Cedar Grove Cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home. Those not able to attend may send condolences to mailto:condolences@laycock-hobbs.com