Tameka LaWanja "Akins" Howell

Tameka LaWanja Howell was born on November 14, 1975, in Tampa, Florida, to Gregory Akins and the late Geraldine V. Ford. On Sunday, September 14, 2025, she slipped into eternal rest, embraced and held tightly by her beloved husband, Anthony Howell, with her remarkable son Reginald aka Reggie by her side. Tameka received her formal education in the Pasco County School System and, upon graduation, pursued higher education to become a Dental Hygienist. She was blessed to give birth to two beautiful children, Reggie Young and Micaiah Young, she lovingly dedicated herself as a homemaker to nurture her family. A gentle and soft-spoken soul, Tameka found joy in arts and crafts, hairstyling, nail design, and gardening, which eventually led her to become a proud business owner of "Tameka's Custom Designs". She was preceded in death by her loving mother, Geraldine V. Ford; her step-father, Gary Ford, Sr.; her maternal grandmother, Maeola Miller; her paternal grandfather, Clarence Akins; her paternal grandmother, Marion Morton; her paternal great-grandparents, Otto and Lena Mae Akins; her sister-in-love, Beverly J. Davis; two brothers-in-love, Tony Parson, Jr. and Ulyssee Bryant; and two uncles, David Myers and Mark Anthony. Tameka leaves to cherish her precious memory her beloved husband, Anthony Howell, "the one whom her soul loved"; her sons, Reginald Young, Jr., Jajuan Young, and Anthony Howell, Jr.; three beautiful daughters, Micaiah Young, Latoya Lewis, and Jasmine Howell; three grandsons, Calvin Wilson, Zayden Wright and Amare T. Stewart; three granddaughters, Tynaria Young, Amiyah Lewis, and Asiyah Lewis; her father, Gregory Akins; her two sisters, Felisha Parson and Cherrell Akind-Williams; her brother, Andrian Hicks; her beloved mother-n-love, Minnie Howell; two brothers-in-love, Derald R. Bryant, Sr. (Barbara) and Acie Howell; three sisters-in- love, Wanda Wells, Tonya Howell, and Shaquandra Norman (Anthony); two aunts, Imogene Romaine and Barbara Ann Akins; three special nephews/sons, Tu wan Flowers, Sha Von Flowers, Denario Hicks; in addition to AlZion Hicks, Adrian Hicks, Timothy Littlepage, Vernon Willims, Jr.; her treasured nieces, I'mari Flowers, Chanterria Hicks, Adrionna Hicks, Aviona Hicks, Talaysha Ward, and Teniya Williams; three great-great nieces Malaysia Wells, Jere 'Myia Wells, Cali Reed, three great-great nephew's DeNario Hicks, Jr., Chouice Stewart, Ceejay Stewart, her god-nephew, Dakota Alexander. Through her union with Anthony, Tameka was also blessed to receive in love many additional nephews and nieces, too numerous to name. She also shared a special bond with Shaila Badger, whom she loved as a daughter; her cherished puppy, Nasir; and a host of other relatives and friends who loved her deeply.