H oward is a life long resident of East Cobb County. He was employed in the early 1950’s by J. Austin Dillon Funeral Home, Atlanta and Hay Funeral Home, Marietta. He then served several years at Mayes Ward Funeral Home. After Mr. Bob Hay’s death in 1965 Howard bought Hay Funeral Home and renamed it Hay-Gantt Funeral Home. He and Chuck operated Hay-Gantt Funeral Home for before combining it with Collins Funeral Home in 2000. He is a member of Kennesaw United Methodist Church. He and his wife Susie Jones Gantt live in Kennesaw. He has 3 children Jim, John and Michelle. Howard still works funeral services on occasions in the daily operations and if he knows a family personally he is still a active funeral director. He is a member of the Marietta Masonic Lodge #33 F&AM; Marietta Golden K Kiwanis and the Academy of Graduate Embalmers of Georgia.