Bertha Taylor Howard of Gloucester, widow of Albert M. Howard, departed this life on Thursday, Dec. 27, 2012.

She was a lifelong resident of Gloucester and a member of Smithfield Baptist Church.

Survivors include children, Barbara Howard and Alvin Howard (Irma) of Gloucester, Arthur Howard of Yonkers, N.Y., Randolph Howard (Susan) of Seminole, Fla., Elaine Howard Dillard (Joseph) of Newport News, Delores Yvonne Howard Patton (Frank III) of Lynchburg, and Harold Howard (Yvette) of Newport News; sisters, Catherine Taylor of Brooklyn, N.Y., and Dorothy Sherrod (Willie) of Warner Robbins, Ga.; 15 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; a great-great-granddaughter, and a host of other relatives and friends.

A funeral service was held at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2013, in Bethel Baptist Church, 2978 Hickory Fork Road, Gloucester. Burial followed in the church cemetery.

Visitation was held on Tuesday from 6-7 p.m. at Howard Funeral Home, 8710 George Washington Memorial Highway, Gloucester. Mrs. Howard lay in state from noon until service time on Wednesday.