Helen (Shoptaw) Howarth

Helen Shoptaw Howarth, 95, formerly of Jacksonville Florida, passed away peacefully on July 11, 2024, at Dublin Place.

Mrs. Howarth was born on January 23, 1929, in Sheridan Arkansas to GC and Mabel Shoptaw. She moved to Georgetown, South Carolina during childhood. She later attended Limestone College in Gaffney, South Carolina earning her teaching degree with an emphasis in math. After completing her teaching degree she moved to Savannah, Ga to join her family where she taught math at Savannah High School.

Mrs. Howarth met her husband John Howarth, Jr in Savannah and married on August 1, 1953. They moved to Jacksonville, Florida soon after and she continued to teach math. Mrs. Howarth was part of the Alderman Park Garden Circle and a member of the Garden Club of Jacksonville. She served as the President of the Garden Club of Jacksonville from 1973-1975 and again from 1996-1998. She was a talented floral designer and enjoyed sharing her talent by teaching others the art of the Hogarth Curve Floral Design. Mrs Howarth was a faithful member of Parkwood  Church in Jacksonville. She enjoyed placing flowers in the sanctuary and designing the Christmas floral arrangements with many of the flowers coming from her personal garden. Mrs. Howarth enjoyed her friends and family. She planned summer reunions at St. Augustine beach for her family to gather. Mrs. Howarth played golf well into her 80’s at Deerwood Country Club in Jacksonville. She loved to play cards, especially Bridge. 

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, John Howarth, Jr.; her brother, James H. Shoptaw; sister-in-law, Rose H. Shoptaw, and great nephew, Andrew McQuaig.

Survivors include her brother, George Shoptaw of Los Gatos, CA; niece, Georgeann Shoptaw of San Francisco, CA; niece, Marty McQuaig (Mike), of Lilburn, GA; nephew, Jimbo Shoptaw (Helen), of Hazard, KY; and numerous great nieces and great-nephews.

Graveside services will be held at Bonaventure Cemetery in Savannah, Ga, on Saturday, July 27, 2024, at 3:00 pm. Pastor Cisco Ospina and Pastor Manny Keyser will officiate.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Garden Club of Jacksonville 1005 Riverside Ave. Jacksonville FL 32204 or to Parkwood Church 7900 Lone Star Road, Jacksonville Fl 32211.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Helen (Shoptaw) Howarth, please visit our floral store.