Joy Robinson Bell, 97 of Tampa, died peacefully Monday, October 18,2021 surrounded by her family. Joy was the daughter of Christopher Sutton Robinson and Virginia Draper Robinson. She was born in Tampa. She is predeceased in death by her husband of 75 years, Lem Bell, as well as her sister, Shirley Robinson Hanson and her grandson, William Randall Prince.
Joy is survived by her children, Ginger Thrift (John), Becky Savitz (Ed), Chris Bell (Karen), Shirley Prince, and Sandy Bell, as well as her grandchildren Jen Frier (Cory), Jack Thrift (Sheila), Sallie Orchard (Jeff), Rebecca Savitz, Rob Bell (Ashley), Ginny Pearce (Roger), Scott Bell, and Mack Prince, and ten great grandkids.
Joy was a member of St. Andrews Episcopal Church serving as President of the ECW and St. Monica’s Circle. Joy attended Gorrie, Wilson, and Plant High School and graduated from Stratford Hall in Danville, Virginia. She attended Florida State College for Women where she was a member of Alpha Delta Pi sorority. Joy was an avid equestrian and exhibited at horse shoes throughout the south. She belonged to the Tampa Junior League serving as Sustainer President and was named Sustainer of the Year. Joy was a member of the Board of Directors of the Home Association serving as President as well as the HB Plant Museum. In her later years Joy and her husband moved to Canterbury where she reunited with many of her childhood friends. Joy will have a graveside family only funeral at The Florida National Cemetery to be laid to rest by her husband.
