howard jordan
1939-2006
Life Story
Early Life & Family
Howard Jordan was born on December 5, 1939, in Newton County, Mississippi, to Johnnie Jordan (1904–1989) and Ida Mae Evans Jordan (1905–1990). He was raised within a large, close-knit family whose roots extended across the White Stone and St. John communities of Newton County.
Howard’s childhood was shaped by rural life, extended family networks, and strong church traditions that emphasized responsibility, faith, and perseverance.
Education and Early Adulthood
Growing up in Newton County during the mid-20th century, Howard came of age at a time when economic opportunity for African Americans was often limited locally. Like many of his generation, he sought broader prospects beyond his home county while maintaining close ties to family and community.
Migration and Adult Life
For most of his adult life, Howard Jordan resided in Gulfport, Mississippi, part of a broader migration pattern in which members of the Jordan and Evans families relocated to the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Gulfport offered employment opportunities and the presence of relatives who had already established lives there, creating a supportive network for those who migrated.
Despite living away from Newton County, Howard remained firmly connected to his family’s home community. His eventual return to St. John for burial reflects the enduring bond many migrants maintained with their ancestral churches and cemeteries.
Church and Community Connection
Although Howard spent much of his adult life outside Newton County, his family’s spiritual and burial ties remained anchored at St. John Missionary Baptist Church. The St. John graveyard served not only as a final resting place but as a symbol of continuity—linking those who left with those who stayed.
Death and Burial
Howard Jordan passed away on January 31, 2006. He was laid to rest at St. John Missionary Baptist Church graveyard in Newton County, Mississippi, alongside generations of family members. His burial at St. John affirms the lasting importance of place, memory, and church affiliation within the Jordan family.
Why This Matters
Howard Jordan’s life illustrates a familiar but significant pattern in Newton County history—the migration of families to places like Gulfport for opportunity, paired with an enduring return to ancestral ground for burial. His story reinforces how St. John Missionary Baptist Church functioned not only as a local church, but as a spiritual and cultural home that continued to claim its people, even after decades away.
Resting Place
Saint John Missionary Baptist Church Graveyard
Photos/Albums
Sources
- 1940 Federal Census
- 1950 Federal Census
- Scott County Times, Johnnie Jordan Obituary, Wed, Mar 29, 1989 ·Page 2
- U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current
- U.S. Public Records Index, 1950-1993, Volume 1
- U.S., Index to Public Records, 1994-2019
- U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007
- U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014
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