Archie D. Howell grew up in Geneva County, AL and graduated from Geneva High School in 1959. He returned to Geneva in 1988 after serving in the U.S. Navy for 29 years. He married Brigitte Eddman in 1975. They have three children, Gregory, Andrea, and Jennifer. After Navy retirement, he sold automobiles for 20 years and served on the city council for 4 years. Having been baptized as a Primitive Baptist in 1957, he attended churches of various denominations. He became an active member of Providence UMC in 2010. Sensing a call, he became a certified lay speaker in 2017. Scriptures that have impacted his path towards Christian maturity include Philippians 4:11, Matthew 5:37, Isaiah 6:8, and 2 Timothy 4:2. To God be the glory!