Howard Cain Rawlings, Sr.

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Howard Cain Rawlings, Sr. was born on November 4, 1936, in Orange, Virginia to Luke and Harriet Quarles Rawlings, Sr. He departed this life on Thursday, December 30, 2021, at his home in Bristol, PA of Bristol Township at the age of 85.

Howard, Sr., also known as “Howard,” “Dad,” “Pop-Pop,” “Uncle Howard,” or “Brother Howard,” was reared in Orange, VA, where he graduated from George Washington Carver High School. Howard accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior and was a regular attendee of Shady Grove Baptist Church in Orange, VA, and at the House of Prayer in Bristol, PA. He also served at New Beginnings Community Church in Bristol, PA, under the late Elder Ben Bussey, Sr.

Howard was married to Francine Hargrove Rawlings for 51 years. To this union, three children were born, Camilla Rawlings Cryer, Theresa Rawlings, and Howard Rawlings, Jr.

Howard remained active throughout his life. He worked and retired from Pathmark Stores in Edgewater Park, New Jersey, and from Bristol Township Public Schools from his placement at Lafayette Elementary School. A big sports fan and loyal to the Baltimore Ravens football team, Howard played in the softball league for Shoprite Stores from the late 1960s to the early 1970s.

Howard was also well known in the Bristol community and in Orange, VA. He was an early riser who enjoyed the outdoors. Howard’s favorite activities were gardening, mowing the lawn, fishing, collecting coins, and playing his guitar. Howard extended his talents to entrepreneurship in mowing lawns and in helping others start and maintain their gardens. Additionally, he shared the wealth of his vegetable garden and fish caught from deep-sea fishing with others in the community. Howard also frequently visited his family and friends, attended family gatherings, and visited the sick and shut in. Lastly, Howard enjoyed playing his guitar with friends, studying, and debating the Bible with friends, and starting his mornings with prayer and either a breakfast of hot tea and toast and eggs or coffee and a Dunkin doughnut. A dedicated husband, father, brother, uncle, grandfather, friend, and neighbor, Howard always supported and spoke with pride of his family’s accomplishments.

Howard was preceded in death by his eight brothers Luke Rawlings, Jr., Russell Rawlings (June Hopkins), Leon Rawlings, William “Hooks” Rawlings (Eloise), Anderson Rawlings (Minnie), Theodore Rawlings (Nellie Glover), Raymond “Bucky” Rawlings (Catherine Lewis), and Billy Rawlings (Catherine); and four sisters, Lucy Rawlings Wormley (George), Betsie Rawlings, Helen Rawlings Shirley (Willis), and Harriet Rawlings Lewis (Linwood). Howard leaves to cherish his memory, his wife, Francine Rawlings; two daughters: Camilla Rawlings Cryer and Theresa Rawlings; and, one son Howard Rawlings, Jr. (Katrina); Two granddaughters: Sierra Rawlings and Tatyana Rawlings; one brother: Norris Lincoln Rawlings, Sr. (Margaret Smith), and a host of cousins, nephews, nieces, and friends. 

With love,

The Rawlings Family