Dr. Gene Norris Howell, Jr.

Gene Norris Howell, Jr., passed away at the age of 70 on January 30, 2024. He was born in Ripley, Mississippi on August 15, 1953. Norris attended Ripley High School and worked weekends at his family’s business, Howell Lumber Company. He graduated from the University of Mississippi with a Bachelor of Science in Biology and was one of two students from the state that year accepted into the University of Tennessee Health Science Services College of Dentistry. He graduated from dental school in 1979 and served as a professor the following semester. Norris returned to Ripley and practiced general dentistry for nearly 45 years. His love for his patients, staff of Family Dental Clinic, and the field of dentistry was unmatched. Norris was a devoted member of the Ripley Presbyterian Church, where he served as elder. For many years, he taught the youth Sunday School class and later, the adult class. He served as a leader for the Journey Weekly Bible Study. At the time of his death, Dr. Howell served as the First Vice President of the Mississippi Dental Association. He was a member and past president of the University of Tennessee College of Dentistry Alumni Board of Trustees. He was a member of the American Dental Association and the District 1 Dental Association, serving as past president. He served on the Mid-South Dental Congress Board of Directors since 1995, chairing the William F. Slagle Dental Meeting. In 1995, he was appointed by Mississippi Governor Kirk Fordice to the State Board of Dental Examiners, where he served until 2005 in the roles of president and legislative liaison. He was later invited to join the National Board of Dental Examiners, where he was a calibrating grader for the Council of Interstate Testing Agencies. Dr. Howell was a fellow of the American College of Dentists and the International College of Dentists. He was a member of the American Association of Dental Boards and the Pierre Fauchard Academy. In 2020, he was recognized as the University of Tennessee College of Dentistry’s Outstanding Alumni of the Year. Norris was a pillar of his community. He was a member of the Ripley Rotary Club and the embodiment of its motto: Service Above Self. He founded and chaired the Rotary Coats for Kids program, which distributed over 30,000 coats to children in Tippah and Benton counties throughout the years. He was a Paul Harris Fellow and received the Rotarian of the Year Award twice. He has been recognized as the Mississippi Economic Development Council Volunteer of the Year and Mississippi’s Business Man of the Year. He served five years on the Tippah County Development Board, and was past president. He volunteered as a member of the Tippah County Fair Association Board and sponsored the fair show for many years. Norris served on the Tippah County Hospital Board for 20 years and was past chairman. He also served on the Board of the Directors for Girl Scouts Heart of the South and received the World of Thanks Award. Norris twice received the Life Saver Award from the American Cancer Society. For his community involvement, he was recognized with the Jefferson Service Award. Under his leadership of the Ripley Band Boosters, the Willard Taylor Band Hall was conceptualized, built and dedicated. His championing of Ripley High School’s Math and Science Complex resulted in the school district’s recognition as a Point of Light by President George H.W. Bush. For his dedication, Norris was honored as both the South Tippah School District and Mississippi First Congressional District Parent of the Year in 1992. He was also the past chairman of Enrichment, Inc., supporting South Tippah schools. Norris served on the University of Mississippi Alumni Board of Directors from 2008 to 2011. Together with his wife, he endowed the Howell Family Outstanding Teacher of the Year Award, which honors a professor of the University’s School of Liberal Arts. He was an avid supporter of Ole Miss sports, active in the Vaught Society, Bullpen Club, and basketball boosters. In addition to being with his grandchildren, he loved fishing and being outdoors. He is survived by his wife of 47 years, Lynne Thomas Howell; his daughter, Julie Howell Addison, his son-in law, John Patrick Addison, and his grandchildren: Ossie Carmel Addison and Howell Holland Addison, all of Oxford; and his loyal staff. He was preceded in death by his father, Gene Norris Howell, Sr., his grandparents, Joel Aaron and Valerie Boyd Howell, and his in-laws, J.D. and OC Thomas. Visitation will be at Ripley Presbyterian Church, Ripley, MS, from 10am-12pm, on Saturday, February 3, 2024, with the funeral service following at 12pm. A private graveside service will be held afterwards. Pallbearers will be Donnie Greene, Steve Ward, Richard Nance, Price Elliott, J.D. Hankins, David Hankins, Fred Permenter, and Eddie McCafferty. Honorary pallbearers are the Elders of the Ripley Presbyterian Church, Earnest Rainer, Roger Stegall, Dr. Bill Alford, Dr. John Bakker, Dr. Robert Perry, and Dr. Don Roten. In honor of his life, donations may be made to Ripley Presbyterian Church.

Dr. Gene Norris Howell, Jr.

August 15, 1953 - January 30, 2024