Billy Forrest Howell Sermon Collection

Billy Forrest Howell (1932–2023) was born and raised in Morrilton, AR, the original home of Harding College. His father, Forrest Admiral Howell, attended classes on that campus in the mid-1920’s, and three generations of Howells would follow him. Bill arrived on the Harding College campus in Searcy in 1951. Majoring in Vocal Music, he was a member of the Harding Chorus led by Dr. Ken Davis. Bill had a beautiful baritone voice, and for his senior recital he sang, “Climb Every Mountain.” You can listen to it here. As a young man one of Bill’s favorite things to do was lead singing for worship services at congregations of churches of Christ. Throat surgery put a stop to that, but his love of congregational singing and choral music never diminished. He began collecting recorded sermons during this time.

Bill was married to Charlean Lynch, and they were blessed with over 62 years together. Their only son, Malcolm, graduated from Harding in 1987. He was married to Stephanie (Carter) Howell Cochran until his tragic death from a car accident in 2008. Their two girls, Katherine (Howell) Yates and Emma (Howell) Ashburn, Billy’s only grandchildren, are Harding graduates also.

Bill was a four year U.S. Navy veteran. His private business activities included building and operating a skating rink and bowling lanes in Morrilton, building and managing a Road Runner convenience store in Searcy, working in construction, and then as a maintenance worker at the Downtown Church of Christ in Searcy, from which he retired in 2003.

Bill was a lifelong member of the church of Christ. He faithfully attended worship services and often requested recordings of sermons, so he could listen to them again. He would listen to favorites multiple times. He amassed quite a collection over the years, representing a variety of preachers. Late in life he expressed hope that the recordings could be preserved for the benefit of others. It was, in fact, one of his final requests to his daughter-in-law, Stephanie. In honor of his expressed hope and in loving memory of Billy Forrest Howell, she along with Katherine and Emma donated his collection to Harding University. They are grateful to all who worked so diligently on this project enabling them to memorialize their father-in-law and grandfather in this meaningful way.