Kenneth "Lil Bay" Desmond Howard

The service for Mr. Howard will be live streamed on the Facebook Page of Fisher Memorial Funeral Parlor.

Kenneth Desmond Howard known as “Lil Bay” was born on September 1, 1955 in Durham, North Carolina to the late William Melvin Howard and Elizabeth “Pike” Overby Howard. He departed his life on Saturday, June 4, 2022 at Duke Hospital with his family by his side. Lil Bay was preceded in death by his sister Dixie E. Howard; brothers William M. Howard, Jr., Carey M. Howard, Sr., Michael Howard, Sr.; his nephew Michael Howard, Jr. and his grandson Demontay Kirk.

 Lil Bay grew up in the Pearsontown/Hayti area of Durham where his family was one of the first black families to own their home.  The Cornwallis community became his actual second home.  Lil Bay spent over half of his life in Cornwallis where he was accepted as family by those who knew him so well especially his cousin Sue Miller, the community adored, protected, fed and loved him dearly.  If you wanted to visit him, you had to go to Cornwallis to see him.  He was educated within the Durham Public Schools and was employed by Duke Hospital in maintenance and did brick mason/construction work with his brothers. Occasionally, he did attend Mount Zion Baptist Church and Bell Yeager Freewill Baptist Church his younger years.

 He enjoyed and loved his life. His jokes and stories were always funny and hilarious. He loved spending a lot of his time with his family and closest friends. He enjoyed traveling especially to other states, the beach, mountains and the zoo. He enjoyed watching football, basketball and going to different events in Durham like NCCU football games, the Bimbe and the Durham Bulls baseball games.

 He leaves to cherish his memories; his daughter Teneice Parrish; five grandchildren, Monica Parrish-Thorpe, Tierra Kirk, Donte Kirk, Tequan Kirk, Johntay Parrish and ten great-grandchildren; beloved brother, Willie Frank Howard; beloved nieces, Dellemontre Blue, Terry Capers, Sharon Waddell, Tuwana Capers, Kimberly Wiggins, Jessica Howard, Carey Elaine Howard and Jackie Howard; beloved nephews, Carey Howard, Jr., Byron Howard, Tony Howard and Willie Howard, Jr.; sister-in-law Elaine Howard; his beloved great-nieces, great-nephews, cousins, and friends.

 Also, to cherish his memories, his best friends James “Nate” Beatty and Barbara Jones. They were very dear to this heart. When he spoke of them and his other friends who have gone onto glory, he would just reminisce on the good ole days and start laughing. That would make his day. He will forever be in our hearts and missed tremendously.

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