William Berkeley Howard, Sr. age 87, passed away Friday, November 1, 2013 at his home in Murfreesboro. He was a native of Belleville, NJ and a son of the late Thomas Howard, Sr. and Bertha Harris Howard. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by three brothers, Thomas, Harold and Carl, two sisters, Marie Thorpe and Priscilla Cash; the mother of his children, Mary Frances Williams; second son, Dennis Wayne Howard, Sr.; a grand-son, Ralph Ford Wright Jr., and two great-grandsons, Dennis Wayne Howard III and Trent Wright-Roberts. Visitation will be Thursday, November 7, 2013 from 4:00pm until the time of funeral services beginning at 6:00pm at Woodfin Chapel, Smyrna with Reverend Ben Dillard officiating. Mr. Howard is survived by his children, Brenda Sandra Howard of Alabama, Marsha Ann Howard of Smyrna, TN, William Berkeley Howard, Jr. of Columbus, OH, Mary Frances Buchanan of Smyrna TN, and Mark Collin Howard of Murfreesboro TN; 18 grandchildren, 20 great grandchildren, and 30 great -great grandchildren, nieces, Priscilla Grimes and Doris Chestnut, and host of nieces, nephews, and cousins. Mr. Howard, Sr. served in the U. S Navy in World War II from 1944-1946 on the USS Razorback Submarine and received an honorable discharged in 1946. Many years ago, he established and was President of the Essex County Employees Association, which included employees working at the Overbrook Hospital in Cedar Grove, NJ, and the Geriatric Hospital in Bellevue, NJ. These facilities were later referred to as "The Essex County Hospitals, hence the name of the association, "The Essex County Employees Association." As the result of his vigilance and commitment to his fellow workers, all members of the union were awarded many benefits that never existed. An online guestbook is available for Mr. Howard at www.woodfinchapel.com