REFLECTIONS OF MY FRIEND/UNCLE PHILLIP HOWELL

On Saturday morning, I received a call that has me shocked and sad; I learned that Phillip Howell, a man I've known and loved as a friend, and uncle had died. I learned that he was found unconscious in his apartment and later died.
Words cannot express how I'm feeling at this shocking and upsetting news. "We had dinner the day before Thanksgiving and we talked about getting together with some other friends before or after the Chirstmas holiday for dinner" I told many of those who knew and loved him as well.
I first met Phillip at The Supremes convention in August 1998, where we met former Supremes Scherrie Payne & Lynda Laurence and Betty Kelley from The Vandellas. A few weeks later we met at Mary Wilson's concert, and we took pictures backstage with her and her back up singer Parnell and took the D train back to Manhattan. We didn't connect until the following year at Mary's concert and we started to connect by speaking on a monthly basis and I was amazed at his interest in music, and world culture, ans we were also the biggest Supreme Fans in the world. He had a large collection of videos, music and photos, In fact, my good friend Ronne Hayne, an author, actor and writer dubbed him Uncle and Phillip Powell the male version of Motown's charm school teacher Maxine Powell because he had class, taste and style
In fact the last two birthday get togethers we threw for him, he insisted on serving us drinks, salad and dessert even though it was his gathering!!!!!!!!!!!
Talk about being classy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
I'm still shocked that Phillip is gone and there are times when I don't wanna accept that he's gone but I have comfort knowing that he went Up The Ladder To The Roof to Heaven and you're at the Golden Arena in the front row cheering Florence Ballard on, and having cornbread with Eddie Kendricks.
I wanna say thank you Phillip for being a great and positive influence in my life as well as Fran, Linda, Ronne, Ralph and Chris.
You will be missed and I know that you're gonna do an excellent job working with the Motown legends in heaven.

Your newphew
Ra Shawn

Songs inspired by this post

REFLECTIONS-PERFORMED BY DIANA ROSS & THE SUPREMES
WRITTEN BY BRINA HOLLAND-LAMONT DOZIER-EDDIE HOLLAND
PRODUCED BY BRIAN HOLLAND & LAMONT DOZIER
# 2 POP/# 5 R&B
LEAD VOCALS-DIANE/DIANA ROSS
BACKGROUND VOCALS FLORENCE BALLARD & MARY WILSON
1967 MOTOWN RECORDS

UP THE LADDER TO THE ROOF=PERFORMED BY THE SUPREMES
WRITTEN BY VICTOR DIMAONI & FRANK WILSON
PRODUCED BY FRANK WILSON
# 10 POP/# 5 R&B
LEAD VOCALS-JEAN TERRELL
BACKGROUND VOCALS-MARY WILSON, CINDY BIRDSONG-JEAN TERRELL

STONED LOVE-PERFORMED BY THE SUPREMES
WRITTEN BY FRANK WILSON & SAMOHT YNNEK
PRODUCED BY FRANK WILSON
# 7 POP/# 1 R&B
LEAD VOCALS-JEAN TERRELL
BACKGROUND VOCALS-MARY WILSON, CINDY BIRDSONG-JEAN TERRELL

TOUCH-PERFORMED BY THE SUPREMES
WRITTEN & PRODUCED BY FRANK WILSON
# 71 POP
LEAD VOCALS- MARY WILSON & JEAN TERRELL
BACKGROUND VOCALS-MARY WILSON-CINDY BIRDSONG-JEAN TERRELL