Frances Harper

Frances Delois Howard-Harper was born on October 14, 1947 in Dublin, Georgia to her parents, Robert Lee Howard and Elizabeth Strawder-Howard. She was the third of eight children born to this union. The family moved to St. Petersburg, Florida in September 1957. Her mother taught her to sew at an early age, and this influenced the sense of style that she always bore. Fran attended local schools and graduated from Gibbs High School in 1965. After graduating from high school Fran began her professional life working at Bell-South Telephone, and Allstate Insurance companies. After being denied a promotion, Fran enrolled at the University of South Florida in Tampa, where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance. Fran was active in numerous university and Black Student Union activities, often serving as moderator or Mistress of Ceremonies. She was named to the "Who's Who in U.S. Universities and Colleges" 1978 edition. After graduation, her professional career continued with positions at Florida Power Corporation, Schlitz Brewing Company, and Westinghouse Corporation. She and husband, Ronald, moved to Colorado in 1986 with a "5-year plan" to return to either Florida or other realms. Fran and Harp would tell you that they were now on their "6th five year plan". She held positions with several Fortune 500 companies in Colorado and in California. She was always as the one to "dot all the I's and cross all the T's. After more than 10-years of working in California while maintaining residence in Colorado, Fran retired to come home to "Mr. Harper" and Stephen. Always one to be on the go, Fran was involved in several enterprises. She was especially motivated by the "Multi-Level Marketing" opportunities in which she participated. Fran also enjoyed Caribbean cruises, the carnival in St. Maarten, and traveling to see her people. She and hubby would drive thousands of miles in several states just to visit family and friends for if only a few days or a few hours. "If you want a relationship you have to work on it", Fran would say. Their latest trip, in November, included stops in Atlanta, Huntsville, Pensacola, Panama City, Jacksonville, Gainesville, Tampa and St. Petersburg. Frances was preceded in death by her mother, Elizabeth (Strawder) Howard; her father, Robert Lee Howard; and her youngest sister, Barbara Fay (Howard) Elliott. Frances Delois Howard-Harper was called to her heavenly home on December 23, 2014. Fran is survived by her husband of 35-years, Ronald B.; son, Stephen L. Davis; and her brothers: Frank (Emma) Howard; Robert Earl Howard; Charles E. Howard, Raymond Holland; her sisters, Joe Ann (Howard) Evans, Mildred E. Howard; granddaughters, Jasmine Davis, Te'Niyah Davis and Abrielle Moore. Father-in-law, Titus (Eve) Harper; mother-in-law, Erlynne Harper; brother-in-law, Byron Harper; sisters-in-law, Brenadette Harper, Lisa (Troy) Clark. Her nieces (or as she would call them, "her Queens"): Lori L. Bolden, Dresdin (Kevin) Bray, Tamica Howard, Ramica Howard, Lori M. (Clarence) Maura, Brooke (Charles) Hobbs, Kamaria (Jared) Williams, Khadijah (Kevin) Camps, LaToya Howard, Brianna Howard, DeKarla Harper, Raquel Harper, Jubilee Clark. Nephews: Khalil Orsborn, Jeremy (Penny) Harper, Brandon (Nova) Harper, Christopher Evans, Yeshua Clark, Adaiah Clark, Sterling Simmons-Harper, Nicholas Simmons-Harper, Shalom Clark, Mishael Clark , and Shaddai Clark. She is also survived by numerous grand -nephews and grand-nieces, and innumerable cousins, relatives and friends.

Funeral Home: Pipkin Braswell Funerals and Cremation - 2050 Uinta Street, Denver, Colorado
Visitation: 1/2/2015 at 4:00 PM - Pipkin Braswell Chapel of Peace - 6601 East Colfax Avenue, Denver, CO
Service: 1/3/2015 at 2:00 PM - New Hope Baptist Church - 3701 Colorado Blvd, Denver, CO
Family Gathering: 1/3/2015 - Following the Service New Hope Baptist Church - 2428 Ogden Street, Denver, CO