Howard M. Sweatt

Howard M. Sweatt, (CWO, Ret, US Army) "Bepaw" a resident of Dothan, passed away Tuesday, November 27, 2012 at UAB Hospital in Birmingham. He was 79.

Funeral services with Masonic Rites will be held 2:00 p.m. Friday, November 30, 2012 at Byrd Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. John Baxter and Rev. Joe Wyatt officiating. Burial with military honors will follow in Gardens of Memory Cemetery with Byrd Funeral Home on West Main Street directing. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 6 until 8 p.m. on Thursday. Flowers are being accepted or memorials may be made to Denton Road United Methodist Church, 2410 Denton Road, Dothan, AL, 36303.

Mr. Sweatt was born August 17, 1933 in Bennettsville, SC to Milton and Neta Sweatt and lived the early years of his life there. He enlisted in the U.S. Army where he served for 26 years before retiring as Chief Warrant Officer. He was a Mason, a Shriner and a Gideon. Mr. Sweatt was a member of Denton Road United Methodist Church where he served in various capacities.

Mr. Sweatt is predeceased by his parents, his wife, Mary G. Sweatt and a great granddaughter, Abbie Kenan.

Survivors include a son, Mark Sweatt of Dothan; two daughters, Peggy Kelly of Columbia and Wanda White of Dothan; seven grandchildren, Sonja Benton  Kenan (J.J.), Kelli Benton Ard (Joe), Natalie Benton Goodwin (Michael), Jeremy Benton (Kenlie),  Andrew Reeder,  Blake Sweatt (Kelly) and Matthew Reeder (Franziska); twelve great-grandchildren; brothers and sisters, Francis Pate (Doug), Ruth Grimsley (Bobby), Buddy Sweatt (Connie) and David Sweatt; several nieces and nephews also survive.

Serving as active pallbearers will be Rusty Jackson, Rory Nichols, Joe May Tommy Bass, Lonnie Mims and Mike Azar.