James Benjamin Howell was born on September 11, 1939, at Columbia, LA,  to the union of his beloved parents, Charlie "Shake" Howell and Beulah Mae Jock Howell. He passed from this life on August 11, 2026, at his residence following an extended illness.

He was preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Marlene Beckley of Columbia and Margaret Brown of West Monroe; his grandson, Jamie Howell; and great-grandson, Trenton Lane Howell. 

Mr. Howell was a construction worker and he retired with Louisiana Pacific in Urania. He loved the outdoors always enjoyed hunting and fishing. One of his main loves and hobbies was that of working with and training horses. He raised yellow black mouth cur dogs and trained them for wild boar baying. He enjoyed this sport with his brother, Boolie and his grandchildren. James always loved talking about the "Ole" times. He built his own smokehouse and used it regularly. Every year he would smoke bacon slabs, he made his own sausage and smoked it. He did this for his children and enjoyed it so much. He enjoyed talking about growing up, how hard times were but they were always happy. He loved his Grandma Fannie and if you ever visited him he was going to tell you about the old bed she gave him. It was also the bed he slept in his whole life.

Left to cherish his memory are his daughters, Joyce Howell and Heather Perot (Terry); his son Tracy Howell (Lisa); and his grandchildren: Tyral Fitzgerald, Ashley Howell, Trystan Perot, and Destiny Perot, as well as a host of great-grandchildren.

Serving as pallbearers will be Braedyn Bailey, Allen Brown, Tyron Beckley, David Bailey and Jamie Duff. Dustin "Duck" Campbell.

Funeral service will be held at 12:00 PM Noon on Friday, August 14, 2026, from the Columbia chapel of Riser & Son Funeral Home with Rev. Chris Bennett officiating. Interment will follow in the Welcome Home Cemetery at Grayson. The Howell family will receive visitors on Friday, August 14, 2026, from 10:00 AM until time of service.