Loretta L. Howard

Born Loretta Lou Perry on June 1, 1935, to Joseph Perry Sr. and Lola Perry. Loretta Howard was the eldest of four siblings. Her parents, Joseph Perry Jr., Frances Lewis, and Aletha Fields preceded her in death.

Loretta was educated in Detroit Public Schools. She attended McGraw Elementary School, McMichael Middle School and graduated from Northwestern High School in 1953. Loretta was proud of her upbringing and often reminisced about her childhood home on Pacific Street. She had an affinity for athletics, especially during her high school years. Field hockey was the sport where she really excelled, as she was offered an athletic scholarship in California to play.

Loretta married Clyde Howard and reared three children: Lawrence, Reginald, and Shana. Clyde and Lawrence preceded Loretta in death.

At a young age, Loretta accepted Christ and was baptized at New Light Baptist Church. Singing in their choir brought her much joy. Later on, she became a member of Hartford Memorial Baptist Church, which is where she remained for the rest of her life.

Loretta showed interest in cosmetology and attended Virginia Farrell in Detroit.
Loretta started her career by following in the footsteps of her mother, who worked in healthcare as a registered nurse. Initially, she volunteered as a candy striper at Mount Carmel Hospital in Detroit, and then she became a nurse’s assistant for Mount Carmel after completing training. While providing care for the family member of an executive, she was encouraged to apply for a position in the data processing department at Manufacturer’s Bank (currently known as Comerica Bank). Excited by the prospect of this opportunity, she ultimately decided to take this new career path.

For Loretta, the bank was the perfect fit for her inherent skills. While there, she was able to forge several long-standing relationships with her coworkers, with whom she enjoyed working and sharing many life experiences over the years.

Though she retired from the bank in 1991, Loretta still found ways to serve others. She delighted in providing day care for the children of family members and friends. She was affectionately known by them as “Rett-Rett.”

Those who knew Loretta well can attest that she was an incredibly strong woman — physically and mentally — who was not afraid to speak her mind. She had such a young and vibrant spirit, as she loved to laugh and crack jokes. She would often say, “I am old, but I don’t feel old!”

Loretta wholeheartedly enjoyed cooking and planning family parties. Her favorite treats were strawberry cheesecake and Cheetos Puffs. She loved butterflies and listening to the musical artist Kem. Her main pastimes were working crossword puzzles, playing Uno, and ordering anything from QVC and/or HSN.

Loretta peacefully transitioned from this life into God’s presence on August 12, 2021.

Loretta leaves to cherish her memory: son, Reginald Howard (Jeannine); daughter, Shana Lee; granddaughter, Maya Crawford; and loving family and friends.