Gloria "Glo" Roberts Howell

Gloria Roberts Howell was a dedicated and loving wife, mother, and grandmother. She was known for being very kind, dependable, and fiercely loyal to all her friends and family. Gloria was preceded in death by her parents Ben and Lunett Roberts, her brother-in-law Rod Fields, and her nephew Ben Fields. She is survived by her husband of 47 years, Tommy, and their children, Julianne Frost (Jason), Elison Lafferty (Patrick), and Tommy Jr. (Ashley), along with their much loved grandchildren, Cole and Clementine Frost, Sam and Lily Lafferty, and Charlotte Howell. She is also survived by her sisters, Carole Fields and Bennie Kay O'Brien, as well as numerous nieces and nephews whom she loved dearly. Gloria was a graduate of H.B. Plant High School, where she was a cheerleader and voted "most popular" by her friends. She attended Converse College where she received a BA in Political Science and a minor in Sociology and Secondary Education. Gloria then returned home to teach at St. Mary's Episcopal Day School. Sports were a large part of Gloria's life and she enjoyed attending all her children's sporting events, as well as many Florida Gators and Tampa Bay Buccaneers games. Gloria served as Secretary Treasurer of the family business Ben H. Roberts Produce, Inc. from 1985-2001. After raising her three children, she enjoyed planning weddings for many local families. Gloria served as a Merry Maker's sponsor, was a debutante and proud member of the YMKG Royal Court, as well as being an active participant in several book clubs. Gloria held various leadership positions during her tenure as a member of The Junior League of Tampa and was also a member of the H.B. Plant Museum Society. Gloria was very active at St. Mary's Episcopal Day School throughout the years her three children were in attendance, contributing to various committees, particularly, fundraising and volunteer work. Gloria was famous to all for her delicious cooking. Her proudest accomplishment in life was her three beautiful children and getting to be Mimi to her grandchildren. A memorial service will be held at Palma Ceia Presbyterian Church, Thursday, March 3, 2022 at 11:00am with reception to follow at Palma Ceia Golf and Country Club. In lieu of flowers, we encourage you to plant something in your own yard to honor Gloria's memory, or make a donation to Palma Ceia Presbyterian Church, Moffit Cancer Center, or St. Jude's Children's Hospital.