John Floyd Howell, Jr.

John Floyd Howell, Jr., age 66, of Nashville, Tennessee, passed away at home on Saturday, December 9, 2023, surrounded by family. A Celebration of Life service will be held at 4:00 PM on Friday, December 15^th, 2023, at West Harpeth Funeral Home located at 6962 Charlotte Pike in Nashville. Visitation will immediately follow at the funeral home.  Prior to services, family will gather in Mount Juliet for the interment of ashes at Mount Juliet Memorial Gardens at 1:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center.

Survivors include his devoted wife, Charlene “Charlee” Franklin-Howell; children, John “Jay” Floyd Howell, III, (Frances) and Rachel Howell Mobley (Clayton); father, John Floyd Howell, Sr.; sister, Leigh Ann Howell Collins; nieces, Allison Collins and Caroline Collins Martin (Hawley); and aunt, Mary Jo Jones (Doug). He is also survived by seven grandchildren, all of whom he loved dearly: Jack, Harry, and Lilly Howell; Stevie and Margot Mobley; Hailey Franklin; and Emma Kelly. He also leaves behind dear cousins in Mount Juliet as well as a steadfast circle of friends.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Rev. Margaret Howell; brother, Stephen Donelson Howell; grandparents, Robert and Rachel Howell; and brother-in-law, David Collins.

A Nashville native, born and raised, John attended Brookmeade Elementary School. His academics continued at Montgomery Bell Academy where he graduated Class of 1975 as a five-year letterman varsity tennis player, which prepared him to later play as a walk on for The University of North Carolina. John’s time spent as a spirited Tarheel at Chapel Hill was enriched by lifelong friendships forged in Sigma Nu. Graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the Kenan-Flagler Business School in 1979, he went on to become a family man with a keen entrepreneurial spirit. John’s charm and quick wit served him well for a long career spent mostly in hotel mergers and acquisitions among other professional endeavors.

Forever playful, kind, and fun-loving, John was a genial competitor on the courts and at the poker table; an animal lover with a heart for strays; and a mischievous rebel to the very end. He appreciated good music, good bourbon, good cigars, and good company most of all. A loyal friend, a dutiful son, a protective big brother, a loving father, and a doting husband, John will be dearly missed.