Rodney Rodrigues “RJ” Howard, Jr., age 19 of Clarkesville, passed away on Sunday, February 5, 2017. Born in Habersham County, Georgia on April 27, 1997 he was the son of Jessica Carswell Howard of Clarkesville and the late Rodney Rodrigues Howard, Sr. RJ was currently a resident of Tangu, Inc., a rehabilitation facility and a member of Shady Grove Baptist Church. He enjoyed expressing himself through rapping and music, hiking and helping others. RJ loved his family, friends and animals and felt at home in the woods. He was known for his leadership at his recovery groups and was loved unconditionally by his friends and family. In addition to his father, RJ was preceded in death by his grandmothers, Jeannie Marie Collier Carswell and Peggy Howard Dooley. In addition to his mother survivors include his sister, Jasmine Howard of Alto; sister & boyfriend, Lauren Howard and Justin Fleming of Duluth; grandfathers, David Carswell of Hollywood and Roger Scott of Cornelia; great grandmother, Drucilla Collier of Hollywood; aunt, Sharmain Dooley of Cornelia; aunts and uncles, Ben & DeAnne Carswell of Clarkesville and Ally & Gary Lewis of Austell; a very large extended group of great aunts and uncles, cousins and many other family and friends. A Celebration of Life service is scheduled for 4 pm, Saturday, February 11, 2017 at Level Grove Baptist Church with Bishop Ernest Burns officiating. The family will receive friends from 6-9pm on Friday at the funeral home. Flowers are accepted or donations may be made to McGahee-Griffin and Stewart Funeral Home c/o RJ Howard Services, P.O. Box 175, Cornelia, GA 30531. An online guest register is available and may be viewed at www.mcgaheegriffinandstewart.com McGahee-Griffin & Stewart Funeral Home of Cornelia, Georgia (706/778-8668) is in charge of arrangements.