Della Edith Dillard Howard, 73, of 208 Victoria Road, died Sunday, July 19, 2009, in Upstate Carolina Medical Center.

Born in Cherokee County, she was a daughter of the late Dock Dillard and Edith Flack Dillard and a member of Temple Grain Ministries. Mrs. Howard was a retired social worker with the State of Maryland.

Surviving are four daughters, Michellé Howard-Hanson (Rev. Yaw) of Virginia, Marva Reneé Howard of Virginia, Maureen Adele Howard of Gaffney and Myjeka Mentory Howard of Spartanburg; six brothers, Dock Abraham Dillard of Mt. Holly, N.C., Dock Isaac Dillard of Temple Hills, Md., Dock Division Dillard (Ruby), Dock David Dillard (Sandra), Dock Solomon Dillard, and Dock Samson Dillard (Alexandra), all of Gaffney; 10 sisters, Annie Love Lipscomb (James), Elizabeth Hopper (Theodore), both of Gaffney, Lucy Mary Spivey (Jackie) of Queens, N.Y., Martha Spivey, Dorothy Vazquez (Pedro), both of Brooklyn, N.Y., Mary Wilkins (Eston) of Spartanburg, Gloria Miel Wiliams (Frank) of Orangeburg, Edith Peculia Williams (Dale) of Gaffney, and Menttory Jones (Curtice) of Columbia; 10 grandchildren and five greatgrandchildren.

Services will be held Saturday, July 25, at 11 a.m. at Shady Grove Baptist Church with Pastor Vernell Wilson delivering the Eulogy and Pastor Yaw Hanson officiating. Interment will follow in Dillard Cemetery. Body will be in the church Saturday at 10 a.m.

The family will receive friends Friday, July 24, from 7-8 p.m. at The Gilmore Mortuary.