NE (05/28/08) Longtime pastor at the Myrtle Baptist Church and community leader Rev. Howard Haywood gets a hug from a young member of congregation following his Sunday service on May 25, 2008.
I’m very sorry to report that Rev. Howard Haywood passed away.
Howard, whose family dates back seven generations in Newton, was the beloved pastor of Myrtle Baptist Church for 23 years. He was a civil rights activist and affordable housing advocate who was credited with securing housing for the homeless and meals for the hungry on a regular basis. He was a consummate volunteer, giving his time and energy to the Council on Aging; The Foundation for Racial, Religious and Ethnic Harmony; Newton Community Development Foundation, YMCA, Newton Clergy Association, Newton Boys and Girls Club, the Newton Human Rights Commission, and the Newton Human Rights Commission (and probably others). He’s been a recipient of the City’s Human Rights Award. Former Mayor David Cohen once said that Rev. Haywood did more to build community in the city of Newton than anyone he knew.
There is so much more to say about Howard. Please join us in sharing your memories.
Village 14 sends it heartfelt condolences to Howard’s family and loved ones.
We will update with funeral information when we have it.
Heartbreaking.
Rev. Haywood was one of Newton’s finest citizens. It’s incumbent upon all of us to honor him by continuing his fight.
Too soon.
The famous street artist Banksy has a saying, “They say you die twice. One time when you stop breathing and a second time, a bit later on, when somebody says your name for the last time.”
Howard will live for a very long time in the hearts and minds of those who knew him. He was a special person, gone too soon, but the world is a better place because of the time he spent with us.
Tremendous loss. His voice is so needed in Newton.
Here’s the Newton Patch story.
Howard had a beautiful gift of speaking the truth, of “walking in the light” as we say in our faith. He was truly “a lamp to our feet and a light for our path” (Psalm 119), and he fought continually for what was “right” according to enduring truths of compassion and justice. Some of Howard’s experiences living in Newton were bitter and painful, yet he felt Newton was his home and his community, and he wanted to stay here and fight for this to be a better place. And it is a better place, thanks to his lifelong leadership and tireless advocacy. This is indeed a tremendous loss.
Rev Haywood was a fighter for human decency and brotherhood. He has earned, and deserves, a unique place in Newton’s history. With great force of spirit, he spoke out against the “isms” that break us down and keep us apart.
He understood that one can never turn a blind eye to the past, much as we can tire of hearing it, and that lessons about the human condition and human potential must be learned, and re-learned, sometimes again and again.
Just a few days ago on Village14, he and I were engaging about the story of his family’s eviction from their homes when the MassPike was constructed (plus the homes of others in the black community) and how community leaders (The Board of Aldermen) failed to stand up for the black community when they had a chance. It wasn’t that the law failed these families; it was that community leaders themselves failed them, buckling to those whose voices were louder and whose votes apparently mattered to them more. I was writing him him that this story needs to be told again and again, because we forget just what can happen when (our elected) leaders fail to lead.
His biography is striking. All of Newton should take the time to honor once more this giant and that part of our deal in living in this great community is that leaders and residents must in any way we can stand up for those whose voices have been reduced.
Echoing the sentiment in posts above, his passing is a loss to all.
My heart is broken. He is and will continue to be an inspiration. I had an email exchange with him yesterday where he encouraged me not to be discouraged and to continue to advocate for social justice. Newton has known for sometime that Rev. Heywood has been struggling with his health. I ended the email assuring him I had plenty of energy for the fight.
We will follow by your example Reverend. It is time for us to step up. It’s time to honor one of Newton’s most precious native sons. He did more for us then we ever did for him and it’s time to show him we heard him, we listened, and we will do right by him.
I hope we make you proud Reverend. You were always too good for us.
A wonderful and compassionate man who will leave a sustained and remarkable legacy. I’ve had several long talks with Reverend Haywood over the past year since he called to thank me for an article I posted on Village 14 about bicycling on Rte 128 and beyond during the early 1950s. Since then, we have swapped stories about the good and the not so good of growing up in this City during that time.
In my article, I stressed the almost total freedom we had as kids growing up in the Highlands, but was brought up short by someone at the Y who asked me to consider what it would have been like if we had been African American kids. I then called Howard to bounce this thought off of him. He chuckled and stated that they did a lot of the same fun things we did and had the advantage of a strong, protective and closely knit community in West Newton before the Pike dismembered it. I told him I’d work on an article about all this which I’ve been putting off for reasons I can’t totally fathom. Probably a case of the perfect being the enemy of the good. Last week, I dusted it off and was going to call Reverend Haywood about it this coming week. I knew we’d have a great talk and wish now I had restarted all this back a few weeks earlier.
Bob, please write the article as soon as you can. We’ll all be waiting for it.
Rest well, great Brother and Comrade. God knows you deserve it. Stay near us for a time, until you make your way Home.
Rest In Peace, Rev Haywood.
Howard was and I hope will continue to be the conscience for Councilors. It didn’t matter who proposed or opposed a project – if it didn’t meet his standard which was ‘Does it help the people in most need” – he urged appropriate action. He has set the standard for how to judge our work.
At the December event honoring his life’s work it, the outpouring from those whose lives he touched was overwhelming. He was loved by young and old alike.
Newton has lost a giant. I hope that we will all reflect on his values and emulate them as we work through the issues of the day in our fair city.
A gentle man and a gentle man. We are honored to have known him. Love to all.
Saddened to hear of the loss of Rev. Howard Haywood. – A caring, gentle man who has left a legacy in Newton- helping people.
This loss is immeasurable – especially in these difficult times when we need people of courage to speak truth to power as Rev. Haywood always did. A giant of human dignity, love, service and kindness, his voice will echo throughout our city for generations. May those of us who were privileged to know and work with him carry on the incredible legacy he leaves behind. Blessings to Katie, their family and the Myrtle community at this time
Newton’s native son, Reverend Haywood, stood out in this time of demonization of political opponents, as not only an eloquent orator but also as a listener who worked to cause us all to reflect on our deeds and motivations. Seeing unfair acts by our community and its leaders, he called them out and gave his time and energy to righting society’s wrongs. Not with torches and pitchforks did he react to the awful history he had lived, but with the gentlemanly modesty and restraint of reason, the power of his faith and the impeccable strength of his rhetoric. His voice may speak no longer, but our consciences will not let us forget the important history he taught us. We are all at a loss, since a good person has left Newton.
Rest in peace, Rev. Haywood. You will be missed.
I just heard…Rip Reverend Haywood.
A truly inspirational leader, a great person and a great friend. You will be missed.