JACKSONVILLE BEACH, Fla. – Margaret Alene Wilson Howard, 92, known to family and friends as “Mama Bear,” passed away peacefully with her loving son by her side on Dec. 13.

She was born on Sept. 3, 1915, in Gastonia, N.C., the third of nine children of Rufus Boyce and Bess Wilcox Wilson. She was educated in the Gastonia public schools. After graduating from business school, she was employed by the Federal Land Bank, Columbia, S.C.

She was married to William M. Howard from 1936 until 1971. She focused her life on God and family. Due to her husband’s work as a sales executive, she lived in many places and was an extraordinary homemaker, coach and counselor for her children. Later in life, she lived with her sisters and mother in Valdosta, Ga., where she enjoyed fellowship at The First Presbyterian Church and volunteered for LAMP, (Lowndes Associated Ministries to People) and Meals on Wheels. She then lived for many years with her daughter, Margaret “Peggy,” in Wilton, where she was an active and faithful member of the First Congregational Church, United Church of Christ. She loved spending summers with her grandchildren at Clearwater Lake in Industry. She was greatly loved and will be dearly missed by her family and friends who will always remember the wonderful times they shared together.

She is survived by four devoted children, William M. Howard Jr. and his wife, Betty, of Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., Margaret H. “Peggy” Hodgkins of Wilton, Joanne H. Miller and her husband, Kent, of Broken Arrow, Okla. and Jean H. Bleyle and her husband, John, of Athens, Ga.; two brothers, R. B. Wilson of Flat Rock, N.C., and Eugene Wilson of Hahira, Ga.; three sisters, Helen Morgan and Eleanor Gum of Valdosta, Ga., and Patricia Boyette of Strongsville, Ohio; 15 grandchildren; 26 great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by three siblings, Betty Lou Avery, Jack Wilson and Mary Jean Sapp; a son-in-law, David Hodgkins; a granddaughter, Beth Hodgkins; and two great-grandchildren, Nicole Howard and Carter Bevins.

The family wishes to thank the staff at Avante Villa At Jacksonville Beach for the warm and loving care extended to Mama Bear and her entire family during her final years.