By By Lydia Grimes
Features Reporter
East Brewton City Councilman Wayne Howard lost his battle with cancer Friday, leaving a legacy of service in business and in the community.
Howard, a native of East Brewton, had served on the city council for 17 years. He was re-elected just last year.
Howard had also served on various committees to promote economic growth in East Brewton, and he was a member of the advisory board for the Escambia County School Board.
Howard was a 1967 graduate of W.S. Neal High School and attended Jefferson Davis Community College. He also took several extension courses from Auburn University, the University of North Carolina and Mississippi State University.
He was also a local business owner and with his partners, James Evans, Glenn McFadden  and Bob McMillan, who together resurrected Nutex Manufacturing Company in 1998, after its previous incarnation, Sheltex, had closed.
Howard retired from his position with the company earlier this year.
East Brewton Little League president Joey Shell said Howard had been a friend to East Brewton sports.
Howard, a member of East Brewton Methodist Church, also sang in the quartet Joyful Noise.
His faith helped sustain him through his first bout with cancer in 2001, and again when he was diagnosed with cancer of the lymph node in 2008.
Last March, Howard said he would not give up hope despite the difficult diagnosis.
Howard was married to Jennifer Howard and father to three daughters, Dr. Candice Howard Shaughnessy of Troy, Stefanie Smith of East Brewton and Abbie Howard, a student at Troy Univesity. He also had three grandchildren, Joshua Smith, Matthew Smith and Sara Brooke Smith.
Funeral arrangements were incomplete at Williams Memorial Chapel on Friday.