Continuing education and advancement were a way of life for Algertha M. Howard.

        Focused and ambitious, she worked her way up to be manager of food and nutritional services at Bethesda Oak Hospital and ran two successful businesses that catered to high-profile clients.

        But she was also a humble servant of the Lord, and habitually attributed her successes to him.

        “She recognized the hand of the Almighty working constantly in her life, year after year, and repeatedly would give him the praise, honor and glory for each and every success,” said her son, James Howard Jr. of Roselawn. “On many occasions, she would testify to family members and friends about the goodness of the Lord.”

        Ms. Howard, 64, died Aug. 1 of breast cancer at her Walnut Hills home.

        She owned and operated Opportunity Planning Partners, an event-planning business, and Howard Enterprises, a catering company. Procter & Gamble, Cincinnati Bell, Fifth Third Bank, the University of Cincinnati and Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park were just a few of her customers.

        One of her proudest moments came in 1984, when she was honored by the YMCA with the Black Achievers Award, said her son.

        Born in 1937 to Frank and Katie Bell Mack, Ms. Howard graduated from Macon County Training School in Davisville, Ala., in 1954. She married James Howard in Haines City, Fla., the following year.

        She began working in food service at Bethesda in 1965 and became a certified dietary manager after being promoted to supervisor in 1971. This whetted her appetite for more education and career advancement.

        Ms. Howard earned a bachelor's degree in health-care administration from the Union for Experimenting Colleges and Universities (now the Union Institute and University) in 1987 and earned a master's degree from Central Michigan University.

        She also studied food-service supervising and managing at Cincinnati State and Technical College and Raymond Walters College, financial management through a program at Temple University and computers at Purdue University.

        By 1990, she had worked her way up to manager of the food-service department at Bethesda. She retired in 1993.

        Ms. Howard was a member of Rockdale Baptist Church in Avondale, where she sang in the choir and served on the board of trustees. During her tenure as trustee she helped oversee a renovation of the church.

        In addition to her son, James, survivors include: another son, Richard Howard of Forest Park; a sister, Elizabeth “Ninny” Evans of Walnut Hills; a brother, Hylen “Pop” Mack of Colerain Township; and five grandchildren.

        Visitation is 10 a.m. to noon Friday, followed by the funeral at Rockdale Baptist Church, 539 Forest Ave. in Avondale. Burial is in Landmark Cemetery in Glendale.

        Memorials: Hospice of Cincinnati, 4310 Cooper Road, Cincinnati 45242.

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