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The Reverend Howard Finster, preaching his heart out to his family, friends, and anyone who would listen, until his feeble body of 84 years of age could take no more. He is still preaching today through the sacred arts and prints that he left behind, all the videos, tapes, and memories stored in our minds, hearts, and souls that he won for God.

Howard's last messages to the world:
Call upon the name of Jesus, even in your last breath,
Pray the Lord's Prayer,
Pray without ceasing,
Love one another,
Forgive your brother, Win his love,
Jesus is coming in great power and glory,
Be ready to go.

A little boy standing in the fields of sweet home in Alabama had his first vision at age three. Howard Finster looked up to see his sister come down from the clouds with steps appearing before her as she came and went, never touching the ground. Her name was Abby and he called to her. Little did he know that he had just seen his first vision. He grew up in a family of thirteen children, several siblings left him to be with Jesus before he was grown. At the age of sixteen he was called to preach. He started many tent revivals, and built several churches. He married Pauline and they raised five children. They have always been faithful to their marriage, to their children, and most of all, to the service of the Lord. Howard and Pauline would have been married sixty-six years October, 24, 2001, the day after he left to be with Jesus. The story is told that the Reverend Howard Finster gave up preaching because one Sunday night he asked who remembered his Sunday morning sermon. No one did. Now he reaches out to the congregation of the world.

Howard's wife, Pauline and Snoopy took Howard to Paradise Gardens on Sundays for him to greet his fans.

Howard Finster is the creator of Paradise Gardens Park & Museum, a product of all his folk art and Chattooga County's largest tourist attraction. He began this Paradise Gardens around 1961 before he had a vision to do sacred art. In 1976 he was rubbing paint on a bicycle with his fingers and saw the image of a face on the end of his finger. He had a vision. A voice told Howard to do sacred art. He replied that he could not do art because he was not a professional. The voice asked him repeatedly, "How do you know?" The Reverend Howard Finster has followed his vision and the image of the face on his finger has become known as his "Resting Souls" figures in his art. Hundreds of visitors come each week to wonder through the park and Howard is still there in heart and in spirit. Paradise Gardens is a image of abstract, symbolic sculptures and structures. The presence of the sculptures, their lessons and The Reverend Howard's messages from God pervades throughout the Gardens and Chapel. The Garden Chapel that he built, now awaits to be refurbished with old magazines, and books on Howard and his art. Up the winding staircase are drawings, paintings, sculptures and many of his unusual collections. Howard Finster was truly a visionary man who shared his unique gift freely with anyone who took the time to care. He seems a simple man, yet his wisdom cannot be measured, he was a warm, compassionate man with a story to tell. He is loved by people of all ages and little children were special in his heart.

The Reverend Howard Finster had art showings across the world, including the Library of Congress, and the Smithsonian Institute. He has taught many students in college workshops across the nation. He has been on the front page of the Wall Street Journal, and featured in many magazines and newspapers including Time, Life, Southern Living, NY and Chicago Times. He was on the Johnny Carson Show, Good Morning America and has been interviewed by several TV broadcasts including Canada, England, and Japan.

Blackhawk came to video their song, "That's Just About Right" at Paradise Gardens in 1995. Howard told them that they would have to follow along with him while they were playing and singing together. The Blackhawk made themselves at home, sit on the porch of the old Gallery and welcomed people as they came in. They are a very open and warm hearted band.

The Reverend has painted an album cover for the rock group R.E.M.. Michael Stipes helped him design the album cover. They filmed a video for the song, "Radio Free Europe" in Paradise Gardens Park & Museum around 1995.

December 1995, the Reverend Howard Finster was presented with an art exhibit and birthday party at the High Museum in Atlanta. The art exhibit proved to be the museum's largest nation wide exhibition. Spring of 1996 he attended the dedication and opening of the Paradise Gardens sculpture exhibit at the High Museum. Don't miss the real three acre Paradise Gardens and the Finster Folk Art Gallery in Summerville, Georgia.

Michael Stipes and his mother come to honor Howard's birthday at the High Museum.

Howard discusses one of his collections for the High Museum Exhibit with Tony Rajer, one of the world's renown art conservationists.

The Coca Cola Company is one of Howard Finster's greatest fans and

Howard is one of their greatest fans. They commissioned him to paint an eight foot Olympic Coke Bottle to represent the United States art exhibit for the Olympics in 1996.Howard's art and messages have inspired people all over the world including children that visit him and learn about his folk art. He was honored with the Governor's Award and chosen to paint the Easter Egg for the annual Easter Egg Hunt at the White House. He is recognized with letters from leaders all over the country for his astounding works of folk art.

Turner Publishing commissioned Howard to paint illustrations for the "Night Before Christmas" in 1996 and is available at the Finster Folk Art Gallery. This assignment brought this now 84 year old artist back in touch with his childhood. The illustrations are visions of a previous time filled with wonder from an eccentric world renown folk artist. he dedicated the illustrations to all the children of the world including the "Big Ones" and his dreams of restoring his Paradise Gardens. he painted a wooden box symbolizing the C.A.R.E. package for the programs 50th anniversary. It was presented to president Clinton on May 9th of 1996. He completed a painting to raise funds for the Habitat of Humanity and attended the annual convention in Atlanta where he signed many prints made from the painting. The 25x39 Habitat print is available now at Finster Folk Art Gallery, until they are gone.

June of 1996, Howard Finster started a revival and slide show, and art exhibit in Myrtle Beach S.C. at the Peter Nein Gallery. The Mayor of Myrtle Beach attended and gave Howard a Key to the city July, 1996.

One Sunday in December 1996, Howard was visited by the famous Country singer Marty Stuart and Connie Smith. They sang gospel songs together and he completed a portrait of Marty July 4, 1997. After immediate

recovery from prostate surgery he continued to paint. in April, he took a Delta Flight to Pennsylvania to speak on the arts of the Millennium at the Lehigh University in Bethlehem. He signed autographs all day on Saturday at the Howard Finster Festival in Summerville May 10th. On July 26th, 1997 he worked with the children of all ages at the annual Recycled Art Project at Paradise Gardens. The following day he delivered a short sermon and altar call during the Howard Finster Music Revival at Paradise Gardens.

The Reverend Howard Finster took another flight on the Delta to speak at the Elvis Conference in Memphis on August 17, 1997, and returned to be at the Atlanta Folk Fest on Saturday, 16th. He also made an appearance at the Mule Camp Festival in Gainesville, and the Kentuck Folk Art Show at Tuscaloosa, Alabama during the month of October. In December, Howard went to Nashville for a show and presented his newest cut-out to Marty Stuart. Howard was scheduled to be on the Grand Ole Opry, but his trip was made short due to a medical problem.

January 24, 1998 the Reverend Howard Finster toured the Picasso Show at the Atlanta High Museum in Atlanta, and was a guest speaker for the show. He attended the Riverfest in Columbus, the Howard Finster

Festival May 2, 1998, the Summerfest at Virginia Highlands in Atlanta, The Recycled Art Project at Paradise Gardens in July, The Folk Fest at the North Atlanta Trade Center in August, the Athens Folk Fest, The Mule Camp in Gainesville, The Kentuck Folk Art Show at Tuscaloosa, Alabama, all in October of 1998.

Howard teaches the children how to paint his Folk Art Designs at the first Recycled Art Project at Paradise Gardens.

Howard attended the Governor's inauguration and Ball in January 1999, the Outsider Art Fair and the book signing for the book, "The End Is Near" in NY. In March, Howard flew to Memphis University to record his music and design silk screens for the class. He also attended the Art Show at the Southside Gallery in Oxford, Mississippi.
Howard is entertaining at the Southside Gallery. Carol Crown listens closely.

In March of 2000, Howard had a slide show in the American Folk Art Museum in NY.
During his last show in NY, Howard Finster was at the book signing of, "The End Is Near" edited from the visionary art show at the Baltimore Visionary Art Museum. The Museum's director and ground angel from the start was also there to greet Howard, The Rebecca Hoffburger. She came to visit Howard just before he left

us behind. She is truly one of the sweetest persons that I have ever met.

Guess who showed up to meet Howard and get his book autographed? Finally, Howard Finster and David Burns get to meet, years after David commissioned him to paint a Talking Heads Album. Howard's last trip to NY was full of nice surprises for him and Beverly.

After the NY trip, Howard took Pneumonia and thereafter he had a lot of sickness. Howard's traveling was over except for the events at Paradise Gardens. He went from doing twenty to thirty pieces of art a week to three to five pieces until he left us to be with Jesus on October 23, 2001. The Reverend Howard Finster completed over 46,000 pieces of original art works. The remaining pieces of his art has been stored until they can be displayed to the world one day and continue to spread his messages.

Photos and story by Howard Finster's daughter, Beverly Finster, his greatest fan.

Beverly traveled with him to all his shows the last few years that he was able and lived her life to be a part of him. She quit teaching school and has been continuing the family business that Howard Finster started since 1994. In 1995, she incorporated the business into Finster Folk Art, Inc. She also incorporated Paradise Gardens Park & Museum, Inc. as a Georgia Non-Profit Organization. In 2001 she started a picture framing business in Ft. Payne Alabama and named it "Finster Framing", Picturing Your Tomorrow.

Many early mornings around 3:00AM, the time that Howard passed, she awakes from dreaming of him. Every time she looks at one of his pictures she tells him that he is beautiful. She continues a life to be a part of him. In building this new website she has been reliving the past to connect with her father once again. Nobody misses him more than she and he will not be forgotten as long as she breaths the air on this earth.