Drucilla Soward Howard

Drucilla Soward Howard (Dru), loving and remarkable mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister and friend passed away peacefully Friday February 14, 2014 at Lynchburg General Hospital.

 She was born on November 15, 1942, in Pensacola, Florida and graduated from Pensacola Technical High School. She moved with her children to Lynchburg, Virginia in 1974 where she was a devoted and selfless mother to her two daughters.  She lived and worked in Lynchburg until 1980, relocated to Raleigh, North Carolina with Glaxo Wellcome and retired in 1995 and returned to Lynchburg and was employed with Harris Corporation.  

 She was preceded in death by her mother, Cathaleen Soward, her father, James E. Soward, Sr. and her brother, James E. Soward Jr.  She is survived by two daughters, Scheli Seay, and Stephanie Sherman and husband Patrick J. Sherman Jr. of Lynchburg.  She had five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.  Jamy Sloop and great-grandchild Trey of Altavista, and Joshua Seay of Appomattox, Maddie Richardson and husband Jim of Lynchburg and great-grandchild Ronnie Belle, Grayson Sherman and Hunter Sherman of Lynchburg.  She is also survived by her brother Donald Soward, Sr. and wife Tommy Sue, Niece Suzanne Brehans and son Christopher, Nephew Don Soward Jr.,  wife Tammy and daughter Dori of Houston, Texas and Crystal Erickson of Reno, Nevada.

 Drucilla was a member of Thomas Road Baptist Church which she dearly loved.  Memorial contributions may be made to TRBC God Parent Home.

 A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 1:00PM today, Sunday, February 16, 2014, in the chapel of Tharp Funeral Home, Lynchburg with the Reverend David Heerspink officiating.  The family will receive friends immediately following the service at Tharp.

 Tharp Funeral Home and Crematory, Lynchburg (434-237-9424) is assisting the family. 

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