Rev. Howard J. Self

Rev. Howard J. Self, 71 of Nashville, passed away at 11:43 p.m. on Tuesday, August 16, 2016 at Washington County Hospital in Nashville.

He was born on December 9, 1944 in Norfolk, Va., the son of Elza C. and Jessie T. Howard Self. He was first married to Sandra Self and they later divorced. He then married Priscilla Jean Johnson on April 28, 2001 in Centralia and she survives in Nashville. Also left to mourn his passing are three sons, Howard “Chip” (Jodie) Self of Chesterfield, Mo., Jerome Johnson of Des Moines, Iowa, and Richard (Linda) Johnson of Kansas City, Mo.; Four daughters; Lorel Hart of St. Louis, Wylenthia (Mike) Reynolds of Nashville, Cheri (Steven) Price of Des Moines, Iowa, and Kim (Donald) Childress of Birmingham, Ala.; Two sisters, Carolyn (Sam) Treynor of Houston, Texas and Pat (Danny) Martin of Virginia Beach, Va.; 23 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, a daughter; Gwenette, a brother; Cecil Self, a sister; Evelyn Coots and his in laws; Edwin and Viola Richards.

Howard received his Masters in Divinity degree from Eden Seminary. He served in Vietnam with the United States Army and worked for the Norfolk and Southern Railroad for 17 ½ years before going to seminary. Howard was a pastor with the United Church of Christ, serving several churches in Southern Illinois including; St. Peter UCC in Centralia, St. Paul UCC in Pinckneyville, Trinity UCC in Belleville and was currently serving as the vacancy pastor Zion UCC in Hoyleton. He was a member of St. Peter UCC in Okawville and the Illinois South Conference where he served as Disaster Relief Coordinator. He previously served on the United Church of Christ National Justice and Witness Team.

Rev. Self gifted his body to the Washington University School of Medicine for anatomical research. A memorial service was held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 27, 2016 at the Zion United Church of Christ in Hoyleton with Rev.’s Jeffrey Schwab and Shanna Johnson officiating. There was a memorial gathering from 3:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Friday at the church. Memorial contributions are suggested and may be made to the Du Bois Center, Zion UCC in Hoyleton, St. Peter’s UCC in Okawville, Irvington Food Pantry, Hoyleton Ministeries or the UCC Disaster Relief Fund. Styninger Funeral Home in Nashville is in charge of arrangements. Online expressions of sympathy may be made at www.styningerfuneralhomes.com.

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