Thomas Bodine of Boaz, Alabama said the following:
Uncle Howard (Amos Ashburn) was a good man. He was quick to laugh and enjoyed life. He was a farmer as most people were around Arab, Alabama. After the oldest daughter (Mattie) finished high school, they moved to Jacksonville, Alabama where the children could go to college. If memory serves me right, he was employed at Anniston Army Depot until his retirement. They came back home to Arab. I recall he was the caretaker of the gas lamps for Shoal Creek Baptist Church. He would walk and carry them to the church. To supplement his income, he drove a school bus to Grassy school.