Elder Howard Locklear of Buchanan passed away at his home on Tuesday, August 17, 2021. Elder Locklear was born February 14, 1930, in Yorktown, Georgia, to the late U.B. Locklear and Bertha Ogle Locklear. On December 20, 1947, he married the former Miss Frances Brown, and the two enjoyed more than 72 years together until her passing in 2020. They had two daughters, Elaine and Sharon. For over 50 years, he worked as a brickmason. He was of the Baptist faith and was ordained into the ministry in 1977. From that time forward he pastored several churches in the New Hope Baptist Association throughout northwest Georgia. He was a member of Fellowship Baptist Church. While Howard took pride in his work as a brickmason, he was most proud of the family he and Frances built together. Often, during family gatherings he would remark to his wife, "Look what we started!" Their daughters both married, and the family eventually grew to include six grandchildren and more than 20 great-grandchildren. In addition to his wife and parents, he is preceded in death by daughter Elaine Corley and son-in-law Joe Corley, sisters Myra Holland and Cleta Robinson, cousin Junior Locklear, and father- and mother-in law Horace Brown and Loney Weldon Brown. Survivors include daughter and son in law Sharon and Kevin Owens of Bremen; grandchildren, Tara and Matt Bell of Monroe; Amber Wilson of Bremen; Clay and Laura Owens of Panama City, Florida; Allison and Chad Taylor of Bremen; Amy and Jeff McDowell of Bremen; and Clint and Teresa Owens of Bremen; twenty-two great grandchildren; cousin Ollie Locklear of Rockmart; sisters-in-law Jackie Brown of Ellijay and Betty Brown of Carrollton; and a number of nieces and nephews. The family will receive friends at Hightower Funeral Home in Bremen on Friday, August 20, from 5pm-8 pm. A memorial service with Masonic rites will be conducted Saturday, August 21, at 2:00 PM from Fellowship Baptist Church, with visitation at noon preceding the service. Elder Kevin Owens, Elder Randy Redden, Elder Travis Warren, Elder Colt Deems, Elder Tim Deems, Elder Brad Gordon, and Bro. Wesley Clackum will officiate. Music will be provided by Michael Brown. Rev. Clay Owens, Clint Owens, Matt Bell, Chad Taylor, Jeff McDowell, Carter Taylor, Canaan McDowell, Grant Wilson, Camden Taylor, and Tavarius Helton will serve as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers are the deacons of Fellowship Baptist Church. Graveside service will follow in the Fellowship Baptist Church Cemetery with music by Rev. Clay Owens. Share your thoughts and memories in our guestbook at www.hightowerfuneralhome.com. Hightower Funeral Home of Bremen is in charge of the arrangements.