Gloria Cleopatra Headley

Gloria Cleopatra Headley, 81, of Tampa, Florida, sadly passed away on January 6, 2025, surrounded by her loving husband and daughter. A beloved wife, mother, sister, aunt, grandmother, and friend, Gloria will forever be remembered for her kind spirit, patience, infectious joy, and willingness to help anyone in need.

Gloria was truly a miracle. After her mother endured five miscarriages, she was born on August 5, 1943, in Georgetown, Guyana, as her parents' first viable child. She was appropriately named Gloria after many people joyfully exclaimed, “Glory Hallelujah!” Her parents, Isabelle and Bertie Wills, were later blessed with four more children: Helen, Lance, Vipree, and Malcolm.

Gloria left Guyana and soon pursued nursing school in London, England, where she met and married the love of her life, William Edwin Headley. Their adventurous spirits led them to leave London for Toronto, Canada, and later the United States, where they lived in Houston, Texas; Dallas, Texas; and eventually settled in Tampa, Florida. The couple shared a wonderful life filled with romance, respect, world travels, laughter, and shared values that lasted 60 years. Together, they raised one daughter and cherished two grandsons.

Gloria’s compassion for others and her steadfast work ethic—rooted in her motto, “The correct way is the only way”—resulted in many career successes in nursing. She held numerous roles throughout her career, including Staff Nurse, Charge Nurse, Nurse Manager, Case Manager, International Nurse Recruiter, and Director of Nursing. Gloria worked at several hospitals but took particular pride in her role as Nurse Manager at the world-renowned M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas.

Outside of work, Gloria loved spending time with family and friends. She enjoyed traveling, cooking, gardening, attending church, and watching her grandsons play football and video games. Her love for flowers and gardening led her to become a florist after retirement. Her devotion to God and the church inspired her to become a Stephen Minister, sharing her faith and compassion with others.

Gloria is survived by her loving husband, William Edwin Headley; her daughter, Diane Headley Reeves; her son-in-law, Eddie Reeves; her grandsons, Ryan Mandela Reeves and Roland Malcolm Reeves; her sisters, Helen Jordan and Vipree Wills; her brother, Malcolm Wills; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins around the world. She was preceded in death by her mother, Isabelle (Rodney) Wills; her father, Samuel “Bertie” Wills; and her brother, Lance Wills, with whom she has surely reunited in Heaven. Gloria’s absence will be deeply felt by many.

A service to celebrate Gloria’s life will be held on Thursday, January 30, 2025, in the chapel of Hyde Park United Methodist Church, 500 W. Platt St., Tampa, Florida. A viewing will take place at 10:00 a.m., followed by the service at 10:30 a.m. Flowers are welcome, or donations may be made to the Gloria Headley School of Nursing (SON) Scholarship Fund at the University of Texas Medical Branch.

https://www.utmb.edu/giving/home/memorial-tribute-page