Funeral services for Mrs. Martha Seegers Howard, age 75 of Carthage, Texas will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, October 27, 2006 at Jimerson-Lipsey Funeral Home Chapel with Brother Mark Sloan officiating. Interment will follow in Forest Park Cemetery in Shreveport, LA. The family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m. Thursday evening at the funeral home. Mrs. Howard passed away on Wednesday, October 25, 2006 in Carthage.

Martha Helen Seegers Howard was born on March 17, 1931 in Haynesville, Louisiana to T. A. "Buck" and Dora Lee Fitzgerald Seegers. Mrs. Howard moved to Carthage in 1947 where she graduated from Carthage High School. Mrs. Howard married Robert Henry Howard who preceded her in death in 1976. Mrs. Howard retired as president of Cartex Transport and Vacuum Service in 1999. Mrs. Howard was a very giving person and supported the community through generous donations to many local educational and civic organizations. She was the first donor to the Boys and Girls Club of Carthage and supported other local activities such as Baseball Boosters, Football Boosters, FFA, and numerous scholarships to Panola College. She later moved to Shreveport and then back to Carthage in 1980. She was a member of the Carthage Church of Christ. Mrs. Howard was preceded in death by her parents.

Mrs. Howard is survived by two sons, Henry Howard and wife Kassie of Carthage and Bobby Howard and wife Terrie of Carthage; one daughter, Deborah Howard Patrick of Carthage; two brothers, Bertis Seegers and wife Sally of Carthage and Ted Seegers and wife Judy of Tatum; two sisters, Mary Lou Gray of Carthage and Dot Seegers Barton and husband James of DeBerry; six grandchildren, Katie Patrick, Rachel Howard, Robert Henry Howard, Michael Howard, Jeremy Green and wife Heather, and Ben Green and wife Gina; three great-grandchildren, Rhett Green, Raleigh Green, and Kaleb Chandler. Numerous other relatives and friends also survive Mrs. Howard.

Serving as pallbearers are Luther Conway, Zack Patrick, Farrell Sadler, Robert Henry Howard, Michael Howard, and Jeremy Green. Serving as honorary pallbearers are James E. Barton, Charlie Wilson, Chad Edgmon, and Charlie Woods.

If desired, memorials may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 332 N. Lauderdale, Memphis, TN 38105, the American Diabetes Association, P.O. Box 1132, Fairfax, VA 22038, or the American Kidney Fund, 6110 Executive Blvd., Ste. 1010, Rockville, MD 20852.

A guestbook may be signed online at www.jimerson-lipsey.com.