By Angie Thompson/senior reporter
TIFTON — Former Tifton City Manager Charles “Charlie” Henry Howell, 67, died Thursday at his residence after a lengthy battle with cancer. Howell served as the city’s manager from 1996-2006 and spent most of his life in public service jobs.
Howell had just been hired by the city when former Mayor Paul O. Johnson took office.
“He inherited a council that was not experienced in municipal government and he was a great mentor,” Johnson said. “He was Paul Johnson’s true friend.”
Johnson remembers Howell as “always prepared for issues that came up and he spent hours researching and gathering information to make available to the council so that we could make wise decisions based on complete information.”
Johnson said Howell “had a special knack” for resolving conflict and “making things happen.”
“We adopted a slogan, ‘Good things happen when we all work together,’” Johnson said. “He had the awesome responsibility of the day-to-day operations of City Hall and he made it happen.”
Before coming to Tifton, Howell served as Lake City, Fla.’s city manager; the City of Macon’s chief administrator; and spent 15 years as the executive director of the Middle Georgia Area Planning and Development Association. After his retirement, he formed Charles Howell and Associates and worked for the City of Ashburn.
Howell’s experience and the contacts he developed over the years served the city well, Johnson said.
“His contacts in Atlanta with the various agencies and how he secured dollars for Tifton was invaluable,” Johnson said.
“He was known statewide and Tifton was blessed to have him.”
Howell, who graduated from the University of Georgia where he played football and ran track, was large in stature. Johnson said his “physical stature and his determined attitude was evident,” but not what Howell was all about.
“Deep down, he was a warm, caring individual,” Johnson said. “He liked a good story and enjoyed life and he liked to fish.
“He is at peace now,” Johnson said. “Like the Apostle Paul, he ran the race hard and he fought a good fight and kept the faith.”
Howell’s funeral is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Monday at Tifton’s First Presbyterian Church. Read the full obituary in today’s paper.
To contact senior reporter Angie Thompson, call 382-4321.
