Trent L. Howell PLLC Receives Spotlight Award

Staff Report

WATER VALLEY – Trent  L. Howell, PLLC has been selected by the Water Valley Area Chamber of Commerce as the recipient of the Business Spotlight Award. On Friday, March 16, chamber officials presented a certificate to Trent and Shelley Howell honoring the couple for their commitment to the community for 38 years since the law firm first opened.

Trent L. Howell graduated from Water Valley High School in 1971. He attended Ole Miss as an undergraduate and obtained his law degree from Ole Miss law school in January, 1978. From there he worked in Louisiana securing oil and gas leases and then went to work in Houston, Texas for an oil company. Trent decided to return to Water Valley to practice law after becoming engaged to Shelley Bennett in July, 1979. He and his father, Hershel Howell, added on to the building where his father had started Howell Realty and which also housed an insurance office run by Jim Hodges. 

On January 13, 1980 Trent and Shelley got married in Houston, Texas. They drove to Water Valley the next day, and on Jan. 15, opened the law firm at 109 North Court Street. Almost from the beginning, Shelley has worked at the office, first as Trent’s secretary, and currently as the office manager. 

Trent has practiced law in various areas including divorce, real estate, wills and estates and pretty much whatever walked in the door. Over the years there have been several high school students who worked in their office part time and several law students from Ole Miss who clerked for Trent. 

Shea Johnson Curtis, a graduate of Water Valley High School, who obtained her paralegal degree from Northwest at Oxford, has been working with Trent and Shelley since December, 2010. 

Trent served as the public defender for several years and is currently serving as the municipal court judge in Water Valley, a position he has held for almost 24 years. At this time he is also serving as the attorney for the Water Valley School District’s Board of Trustees. Trent has been active in the community – he served twice as President of the Water Valley Rotary Club, served as President of the Chamber of Commerce, President of the EDF board, and the Chairman of the administrative board of First United Methodist Church. Shelley has also been active in the community, serving for 11 years as a member of the Water Valley Junior Auxiliary and several years in the Southern Living Garden Club. She currently serves on the Board of Trustees of the Blackmur Memorial Library and has served twice on the Chamber of Commerce board. 

In honor of this Business Spotlight award, the Water Valley Area Chamber of Commerce is offering a $25.00 VISA Card, to be awarded to the person whose name is drawn at NOON on Friday, March 30th.    Everyone is encouraged to participate in this drawing, and you have “10 days and two ways” to sign up between March 21st and noon on March 30th.

You may stop by the Chamber of Commerce office any time during regular business hours to sign up or visit the Chamber’s FaceBook page.  To sign up on Facebook, go to  Water Valley Area Chamber of Commerce, and find the post called “Win a $25 VISA Card.”  Then, type an answer to this question:  “What is the most common type of legal document requested of a lawyer?”  You must give an answer to win, but a correct answer is not required.

(Note:  “LIKES” only will not be included in the drawing.) 

Both types of ballots will be collected and combined, one per person; and the winner will be called OR notified on FaceBook.  The winner’s name and photograph will be published in the following edition of the North Mississippi Herald.