City Council:
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF
THE CITY OF MOUNT VERNON, NEW YORK
CELEBRATING THE EXTRAORDINARY LIFE OF
DEACONESS SARAH BUSH HOWELL,
ON HER 100TH BIRTHDAY
Whereas, the great City of Mount Vernon, NY, joins together the extraordinary life of DEACONESS SARAH BUSH HOWELL in honor of her 100th birthday; and
Whereas, DEACONESS SARAH BUSH HOWELL was born on February 5, 1925, in Williston, South Carolina, a small town in Barnwell County, South Carolina, and was named after her grandmother. She was the sixth of ten children born to Jesse and Euler Bush and is the last surviving child. Sarah was raised in a family of sharecroppers, working the land under brutal and unjust conditions, experiencing firsthand the hardships imposed by systemic racism and economic oppression; and
Whereas, despite limited access to formal education due to agricultural labor demands, Sarah demonstrated resilience and a strong desire to learn. She attended a one-room schoolhouse before enrolling in boarding school to complete her high school education and beauty school. She endured the challenges of growing up in the segregated South, witnessing the injustices of Jim Crow laws and the terror inflicted by the Ku Klux Klan, which directly impacted her family and community. Seeking more significant opportunities, Deaconess Howell moved to Mount Vernon, NY, where she built a life rooted in faith, perseverance, and family, becoming an active member of Macedonia Baptist Church. She met and married the love of her life, Sterland Howell, with whom she raised two children and achieved the American Dream of homeownership; and
Whereas, Deaconess Howell and her husband remained devoted members of Macedonia Baptist Church, where she served as Deaconess and her husband as a Deacon, instilling strong values of faith and service in their family. In 2009, Deaconess Howell moved her church membership to Mount Zion Christian Church in Mount Vernon, NY, where she maintains her Deaconess status. Deaconess Howell is blessed with three grandchildren and has witnessed historic societal changes, including the election of the first African American President, and the first African American female Vice President of the United States, milestones she never imagined possible; and
Whereas, at 100 years old, Deaconess Sarah Bush Howell stands as a living testament to history, having endured and overcome adversity while maintaining an unshakable faith in God; Now, Therefore, be it
Resolved, that the City Council joins friends, loved ones, and the community to honor and celebrate the remarkable life and legacy of Deaconess Sarah Bush Howell, recognizing her resilience, faith, and contributions to her community and acknowledging her as an inspiration for future generations. We extend our deepest gratitude and admiration for her unwavering strength and perseverance, and we celebrate her milestone of 100 years with heartfelt joy and appreciation.