TAMPA, Fla. — Going through old memories is one way Tampa Bay area cousins Nikki Plate and Brooke Robertson stay close.
"We have kind of a small family," said Plate.
But they never imagined that going through the memories of their grandma, Betty Howard, would reveal that she was connected to a big piece of Tampa Bay area history.
"She always kept pictures and newspaper articles and was like a hoarder in this room."
According to a 'Tampa Times' article from 1968, Howard served as the city of Tampa's first woman mail carrier.
![Screenshot 2023-12-25 at 6.38.00 PM.png](https://ewscripps.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/853f81f/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3584x2006+0+0/resize/1280x716!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fewscripps-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fbb%2F9c%2F60ef3954409aaa054a01a21ac4f0%2Fscreenshot-2023-12-25-at-6-38-00-pm.png)
But Plate and Robertson said Howard never spoke of the achievement.
"It's crazy to me because it's such a big achievement to not know," said Plate.
They only found out about it after her death in 2011 at the age of 77.
It's a revelation that the pair claim is a little ironic.
![Screenshot 2023-12-25 at 6.38.59 PM.png](https://ewscripps.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/b0d12a5/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3584x1998+0+0/resize/1280x714!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fewscripps-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F99%2F22%2Fe31dd9c34857bdf05a1f0726fa22%2Fscreenshot-2023-12-25-at-6-38-59-pm.png)
"She was always late. I don't know how her postal carrier was in those days, but [in] the time when we were around her, it was like 'always late!'" said Plate.
But ultimately, it's something that inspires pride.
"I just was proud. You know I felt proud. Like, I can't believe she didn't—like I didn't know, you know? Now I wish I could talk to her about it and find out more," said Plate.
And it's something that may encourage you to ask a few questions of your family members as you gather this holiday season.