Jerome Howard (Age 74) of Oxon Hill, Maryland

Jerome 'Pops' Howard departed this life on May 17, 2020.  Jerome was born in Baltimore, Maryland on August 19, 1945. He was the first of four children born to the late Albertha Richardson.  Jerome was raised by his late Great Uncle Evert and Aunt Hattie Howard on a crop farm in Surrey County, Virginia.

Jerome attended the public schools of Surry County, Virginia and graduated in 1965 from L.P. Jackson High School.  After graduating, Jerome joined the U.S. Army in 1966 and served our country for 22 years before retiring in 1988.  As an Army soldier, he became an electrician and an outstanding charismatic photographer, a career that will later take him all over the world to capture some of the most iconic moments in military history.

On July 27, 1968, Jerome married his love, Jacqueline Christie (deceased). From that blessed union they had two boys, Jerome 'Jay' and Jermaine 'Gee.'  He would later re-marry in 2012 to Pauletta Beaulieu where they would share their love & passion for dancing.

After retiring from the U.S. Army, Jerome was personally asked by the Secretary of the Army to return to the Pentagon as a DA Civilian to continue his photography career. There he became the Lead Press Photographer for the Secretary of the Army, CSA, White House, Secretary of Defense, Chairman, DOD, Arlington National Cemetery, all the embassies in Washington DC and many more government agencies. His slogan "Just Two Shots" was known throughout the halls, events and ceremonies for which he captured.  His assignments included photographing the U.S. Presidents (Carter – Obama), U.S. Senators and Congressmen, special events, celebrities and most importantly, our proud and honored U.S. Military Troops.

Jerome had a great sense of humor and loved to tell jokes and would greet/depart you with his bright smile and two thumbs up. He was known for his impeccable dress attire and of course his precise impersonation of the Godfather of Soul, James Brown. He would do his James Brown dance everywhere he went and his energy was so infectious that those around him would join in. His feet danced to a rhythm with every step.

Jerome was preceded in death by his wife, Jacqueline Christie and leaves to cherish his memory, his current wife, Pauletta, two children, Jerome Howard II (Fatema) of Falls Church, Virginia and Jermaine 'Gee' Howard (La Faye) of Bowie, Maryland.  He also leaves two grandchildren whom he adored; Sophia Jacqueline Howard and Dakota Jacqueline Grace Howard, three siblings, Rev. Gerald Grandison, Rita Jackson and Lawrence Grandison (Deceased). He is survived by a host of other relatives and friends including in-laws, Valerie Fauntleroy, Joseph Callahan (Amelia), Randall Callahan (Sharon) and Terence Callahan (Deceased), sisters, nieces, nephews, cousins and close friends.

His viewing will be held from 10:00am until time of service, 12:00 noon, on Tuesday, June 9, 2020, Thornton Funeral Home, P.A., 3439 Livingston Road, Indian Head, Maryland 20640.

Interment Arlington National Cemetery. Date to be determined.