From The Item, June 26 and June 27, 2003:

WILLIAM E. HOWELL

William Esmonde Howell, noted for his extensive work in local genealogy, died Tuesday, June 24, 2003, at the age of 92. Born in Charleston, S.C., he was the son of the late Vivian E. Howell and the late Gladys Atkinson Howell.

Mr. Howell was a member of St. Anne Catholic Church, the Sumter Genealogical Society, and a fourth degree member of the Knights of Columbus. He was a graduate of Sumter High School and the College of Charleston. He served in the United States Navy and worked for the United States civil service in Flagstaff, Ariz., and Germany.

Mr. Howell became interested in genealogy when he returned to Sumter in 1974 and began researching the Howell family, only to find boxes of dust and mildew covered records on the third floor of the Sumter County Courthouse. In conjunction with the Sumter County Genealogical Society, Mr. Howell devoted the next several years to saving, organizing and preserving those historical records. He was also instrumental in the Genealogical Society's project of completing surveys of cemeteries in Sumter, Clarendon and Lee counties. Mr. Howell devoted endless hours to helping people trace their roots and flesh out their family histories. He also donated hundreds of books and all of his research and writings, as well as albums of old family photographs to the Sumter Genealogical Society.

Surviving are four cousins, Kathryn Wilder Tate, Bernice Wilder McDonald, Robert W. Wilder, all of Sumter, and A. Julian McDonald of Melbourne, Fla.; and longtime friends, Jon and Gail Wood of Sumter.

Mr. Howell was preceded in death by a brother, George Edward Howell.

A funeral mass was held at St. Anne Catholic Church with Father Alistair McKay, C.Ss.R. officiating. Burial was in the Sumter Cemetery. Pallbearers were members of the Knights of Columbus.

Memorials may be made to St. Anne Catholic Church, 216 E. Liberty St., Sumter, SC 29150 or to the Sumter Genealogical Society, 219 W. Liberty St., Sumter, SC 29150.

Online condolences may be sent to www.sumterfunerals.com.

Elmore-Hill-McCreight Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.

Esmonde in a sophisticated mood

William Esmonde Howell .:. 1910 - 2003
Genealogist helped families in tri-county area trace roots

William Esmonde Howell, noted for a his extensive work in local genealogy, died Tuesday at the age of 92.

As a member of the Sumter Genealogical Society, Mr. Howell volunteered his time and efforts to preserving records and tracing history in Sumter, Lee and Clarendon counties.

"At a time when we were smaller and in need of volunteers, he did the lion's share of the work," said John Tindal Jr., who served as president of the Sumter Genealogical Society about 15 years ago. "Esmonde, certainly in the latter part of history of the genealogical society, was a tremendous workhorse for us."

"He was one of our foremost genealogists," said Margaret Atkinson, Howell's friend and fellow genealogist. for more than 20 years.

Mr. Howell graduated from Sumter High School and the College of Charleston. He served in the U.S. Navy and worked as a civil servant in Flagstaff, Ariz., and Germany.

He returned to Sumter after his retirement and delved into work at the Sumter Genealogical Society.

"He really gave his whole life up to our Sumter chapter," Atkinson said.

Through his work, Mr. Howell helped hundreds of families trace their roots.

"He'd be in the archives every day," Tindal said. "Of course, he'd be doing his.own work when people would come in looking for help. He'd put down his work and help them."

Mr. Howell's friends say they will remember him not only for his dedication to studying the histories of local families, but also for his "famous" benne seed cookies that he baked as gifts every Christmas.

"He loved to make those benne seed cookies," Atkinson said. "Every Christmas I would get a can of cookies. He said he would take them out of the oven on a cookie sheet and say three Hail Marys over them."

A devout Catholic, Mr. Howell attended St. Anne Catholic Church. Dorothy Reynolds, past president of the Sumter Genealogical Society, said Mr. Howell's character was impeccable.

"He was a gentleman from another age," she said. "He was very religious and his dedication to the church and to the teachings of the church were unswerving."

Reynolds said Mr. Howell became interested in genealogy when he returned to Sumter in 1974 and began researching the Howell family, only to find records at the Sumter County Court house unorganized on the third floor, coated in layers of dust and mildew.

He was vital in the chapter's efforts to salvage and organize historical records kept on the third floor of the Sumter County Courthouse.

"Esmonde was the ramrod of it," said Don Johnson the former register of deeds for the county. "He kept it going and kept it organized.. They worked for some years and they worked tirelessly. We have a pretty good library today from their work."

Mr. Howell was also instrumental in completing surveys of cemeteries in Sumter, Lee and Clarendon counties.

In addition, he donated hundreds of books and all of his research and writings to the Sumter Genealogical Society.

"People are still benefiting from his work," Tindal said.

- Krista Pierce

Esmonde in his beloved garden in 1991