Lieutenant Colonel Matthew L. Howard

Lieutenant Colonel Matthew L. Howard, a proud veteran of the Georgia Army National Guard and retired Special Agent of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, passed away Tuesday, November 3rd, 2026. The son of Sergeant Frederick Howard and Barbara Howard, Matt was born April 6, 1976, in Washington, DC and grew up in Brunswick, Georgia.

At eighteen, Matt enlisted in the Army, beginning a distinguished 32-year career in the Armed Forces and Law Enforcement. He completed Airborne School before joining the Georgia Army National Guard’s Company H, 121st Infantry Long Range Surveillance Unit. After graduating from North Georgia College, he completed several assignments, including deployments to Iraq, Afghanistan, and Africa before retiring in 2015. He was awarded a Bronze Star, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, and Meritorious Service Medal.

At home, Matt served as Special Agent Bomb Technician in the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. In 2019, he returned to the National Guard’s Security Forces Assistance Battalion serving numerous roles as Executive Officer, and Military Intelligence Advisory Team Leader. He was Commander of the Georgia Counterdrug Task Force Commander, connecting law enforcement agencies with Guard resources and analysis, as well as Commander of the 170th Military Police Battalion.

He was most proud, however, of his rank as a loving, supportive, and enthusiastic husband and father. He was a soldier’s soldier and was known to many as a trusted and dependable friend, family member, and mentor who would drop everything to help a friend in need. Lieutenant Colonel Howard is survived by his wife Elizabeth, beloved daughter Madison, brother Andrew, and father Rick. Services will be held at Ingram Funeral Home in Cumming, Georgia; there will be a viewing on November 11th from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm and 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm and a funeral service on November 13th at 1:00 pm. He will be buried with full military honors on December 2nd at 2:30 pm at Georgia National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to local veteran support funds.

Ingram Funeral Home, 210 Ingram Ave, Cumming, GA is in charge of arrangements. Condolences may be expressed online at ingramfuneralhome.com.