Pearl Waggoner Howard

Pearl Winnefred Waggoner Howard (1885–1969) was an American gospel songwriter and lyricist whose devotional verse was deeply rooted in the 20th-century American evangelical tradition. Born in Oakland, California, she grew up in a household where sacred music and poetry were a natural part of daily life. Her mother, Jessie F. Moser, was an established hymnwriter in her own right, providing Pearl with early maternal mentorship in the unique craft of structuring metrical texts for congregational use. Pearl eventually married Ellis Perkins Howard and spent much of her life dedicated to local church work and family lines before passing away in Winterhaven, California, at the age of eighty-four.

Following her mother’s footsteps, Howard contributed highly accessible, deeply scriptural texts to mid-century Sunday school hymnals and gospel songbooks. Writing primarily under her maiden name, Pearl Waggoner, or her married name, Pearl Waggoner Howard, her lyricism focused on personal devotion, the authority of Scripture, and the transformative power of redemption. Her direct, heartfelt style was designed to appeal to both youth and general congregations, emphasizing a simple but profound walking faith.

Among her published texts, her most recognized contributions include "O book of books, I love it, I prize it more and more," a vivid hymn of praise celebrating the enduring reliability and spiritual nourishment found in the Bible. Her other notably circulated works include "Lord, bless Thy words to every heart," a reflective prayer typically used to close a service or scripture reading, and "Who for blindness gave me sight," an emotive testimony of spiritual awakening and divine healing. Her legacy remains that of a faithful, second-generation writer who used her inherited literary talents to enrich the devotional repertoire of her contemporary church communities.