Howard Middlebrooks was born in Tuskegee, Alabama to Mary A. Middlebrooks and the late Harvey Middlebrooks.  At the age of two his family moved to Buffalo, New York.
He graduated from Southside High School, Buffalo, New York in 1981. Shortly after graduation he entered the United States Army, where he received numerous awards and citations. He retired from the Army 1998. He married the former Mattie M. Crum in 1983. They have two children, Howard Jr. and Hosea.   He holds a Doctor of Theology, Andersonville Baptist Seminary, Camilla, GA, Master Business Administration, Webster University, St Louis, MO, Bachelors of Science Management, Park College, Parkville, MO, Associate of Applied Science, El Paso Community College, El Paso, TX, Associate Science, Park College, Parkville, MO. He is currently a Candidate at Missouri Science and Technology, Rolla, Mo, nearing completion of a Master in Systems Engineering.  He is currently employed at The Boeing Company as a Systems Engineer. He was call to preach at an early age and accepted his call to the ministry in 1986. He was licensed in Jan 1987 at Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church, Butzbach, Germany. He was ordained in Nov 1992 at Community Baptist Church, EL Paso, TX