Howard L long, retired Baptist minister, died on Sunday, October 28, 2018 in Gainesville, FL. He was born August 28,1922 in Alachua County, Forest Grove area. After graduating from Alachua High School in 1940 he attended the University of Florida where he joined the ROTC program. In December 1942 he was drafted into the US Army. While in the army he received medical training in San Francisco before shipping out to Japan. He was in the 833rd Medical Detachment. Howard received his honorable discharge February 19,1946. After leaving the Army, he returned to UF and then onto seminary in Louisville, Ky, where he received his Bachelors of Arts in 1949. From 1953 until 1986 Howard was a pastor at Baptist churches in Florida. At his retirement in 1986, he was pastor at Pine Grove Baptist Church, Gainesville FL. After retirement (a pastor never fully retires), he worked for the local Baptist Association (SFRBA) and interim work as well as chaplain at his retirement center. He married Frances Josephine Smithe on April 21, 1944 in Petersburg, Virginia. Howard was preceded in death by his wife, Frances; parents, Willie and Reuben Long; Sisters, Mildred, Catherine, Grace and Nita. Survivors include many nieces and nephews, great, great-great, and great-great-great nieces and nephews. He leaves behind a legacy of his love for Christ, ministry and compassion. Services will be held Thursday, November 1 at 9:30am at Northwest Baptist Church, 5514 NW 23rd Ave, Gainesville, FL 32606, with a visitation held one hour prior to service. There will be a committal service held in Florida National Cemetery with honors following the church service.
