December 2025
Reverend Jeffrey Paul Howell, Sr. passed away December 11, 2025.
He was born in Chicago, Illinois on August 21, 1960 to Wesley and Janet Howell. He was raised in Maywood, Illinois. Jeffrey is the youngest of six; Donna, Joyce, Mike, Sharon and Joanne. He attended Washington Elementary School in Maywood, Illinois and later transferred to St. John Lutheran School in Forest Park, Illinois in the fifth grade. He graduated from Walther Lutheran High School in Melrose Park, Illinois and then from Concordia College in Seward, Nebraska. Jeffrey met Andrea Jones during his college years, and they were married March 6, 1982.
Jeffrey has served in the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod as a teacher and principal for more than 23 years. His first call, in 1988, was to Lutheran Child and Family Services in Detroit, Michigan, as a teacher in a group home. He then served as a teacher at Concord Lutheran School in Pagedale, Missouri (1989); as assistant principal/teacher at St. Matthew Lutheran School in St. Louis, Missouri (beginning in 1990); as principal/teacher at Zion Lutheran School in Chicago, Illinois (beginning in 1993); and as principal at St. John Lutheran School in Forest Park, Illinois (beginning in 2000) and St. Paul – Dorchester, Chicago, Illinois (beginning in 2004). Beginning in 2007, he served as Director of Programs and Services for Lutheran Special Education Ministries.
While serving in these roles, Jeffrey was obedient to the call from God to further serve in His Kingdom and enrolled in the DELTO (Distance Education Leading to Ordination) Program in 2006, and later the SMP (Specific Ministry Pastor) Program at Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, Indiana (2008).
In 2011, he was ordained and installed as pastor of St. Paul Lutheran Church and School – Dorchester in Chicago, Illinois, where he served until the time of his passing.
Jeffrey and Andrea are the parents of three: Jeffrey, Jr.; Chavon; and Jasmine. They are also the proud grandparents of seven grandchildren: Jeffrey III, Aaliyah, Delia, Jeremiah, Noelle, Patrick III, and Asante.
On Thursday, December 18, 2025, there will be visitation times at Gatling’s Funeral Services, 10133 S. Halsted St., Chicago, Illinois 60628 from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
A Celebration of Life service will be held on Friday, December 19, 2025 at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 7621 S. Dorchester, Chicago, Illinois 60619. Visitation prior to the service will be at 10:00 a.m. The Funeral Service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Attending clergy are invited to arrive by 10:30 a.m. Please wear red stoles.
Memorials will be designated to St. Paul Lutheran Church, 7621 S. Dorchester, Chicago, Illinois 60619.
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