PERDUE, Howard Gardner, Sr. passed away peaceful­ly in a local hospital sur­rounded by his family on Sun­day, January 20, 2008 after a four-month courageous bat­tle with complications from the West Nile Virus. Howard, a lifelong resident of Montgom­ery, was just nine days short of his 80th birthday. Howard Perdue graduated from Sidney Lanier High School in 1946 where he served as Drum Major of the band; he attended Hunting­don College; enlisted for mili­tary service in 1951 and served as First Sergeant of the 31st Infantry Dixie Division Band while on active duty. He was a devoted member of St.John’s Episcopal Church after joining the boys’ choir at the age of 12. He was a member of The Gideons, a former President of the Downtown Montgomery Exchange Club, owner of Citizens Realty and Finance Company for 42years, and a retired Major of the Alabama Army National Guard. He and his wife were active in many other organiz­ations in the Montgomery area. There are no words that can adequately describe Howard Perdue. He was a gentleman by all definitions, truly adored by all who loved him and re­spected by all who knew him for his kind heart, gentle na­ture and genuine characteris­tics of loyalty, integrity, and the highest ideals of Christian manhood. He will be immea­surably missed by each and every life he touched. Howard leaves behind his lov­ing wife of 55 years, Mary Faye Perdue; his adoring chil­dren, Gail Perdue Davis and her husband Ricky Davis, Kennesaw, GA, Cindy Perdue Cox and her husband Randy Cox, Montgomery, AL, How­ard Gardner Perdue, Jr., We­tumka, AL, and Cheryl Perdue Freeman, Montgomery, AL; eleven devoted grandchil­dren, Laura Ashley Davis, Ste­phen Davis, Stephanie Cox Pouncey and her husband Al­len Pouncey, Courtney Cox, Reeves Cox, Trey Perdue, Price Perdue, Parish Perdue, Justin Freeman, Madison Freeman and Sarah Morgan Freeman; one brother, John Alexander Perdue and his wife Rosalyn Sasser Perdue; and numerous nieces, neph­ews and cousins. He was pre­ceded in death by his par­ents William Monroe and Ruth Gardner Perdue, Sr., a sister, Mary Perdue French and a brother, William Monroe Per­due, Jr. A celebration of Howard’s life will be held at St. John’s Epis­copal Church, 113 Madison Avenue, Montgomery, on Thursday, January 24, 2008 at1:00 p.m. with The Reverend Robert S. Wisnewski officiat­ing. Graveside Services with military honors will follow at Greenwood Cemetery with The Reverend Albert D. Perk­ins III and Lieutenant Colonel Michael F. Wallace officiat­ing. The family will receive visitors at Leak Memory Chapel on Wednesday, January 23, 2008 from 5:00 until 7:00 pm. In lieu of flowers the family has asked that you make contri­butions to the St. John’s Epis­copal Church Building Fund, 113 Madison Avenue, Mont­gomery, Alabama 36104 or your favorite charity. Active pallbearers include Mr. Perdue’s seven grand­sons, Justin, Stephen, Trey, Reeves, Madison, Price and Parish; Ricky Davis, son-in-law, Randy Cox, son-in-law, Dave Avant, Jr., daughter’s fiance, and Richard Davis, nephew. Honorary pallbearers include Howard Perdue’s nephew, John Perdue and dear friends Harry Allen, Dick Lechleiter, Stuart “Pat” Patton, John West­cott, Lon Connor, Delano Kir­by, Jerry Jemmott, Bill Pear­son, Sam Maraman, Dudley Griffin, H.G. “Duck” Ruther­ford, Sam Saliba, and Mem­bers of the Downtown Mont­gomery Exchange Club.LEAK-MEMORY CHAPELDIRECTING
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Funeral Home: LEAK MEMORY
Publication Date: 01/22/2008