Shirley Gilliland Roebuck, 83, passed away peacefully in her sleep on the morning of July 31st, 2024, in her home in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
Shirley was born in Windsor NC in 1940 to William Smith and Ella Bass Cowan. When she was 12 years old, they moved to Virginia Beach, Va. Shirley graduated from Princess Anne High School in 1958. After high school, Shirley married and had three daughters. As a Navy wife she traveled the world over the next decade learning from every environment she was thrown into. These challenges and cultural lessons impacted her future. Shirley happily landed back in Virginia Beach in 1973 where her family resided, and she could finally plant roots. Throughout the Navy travels she was active in the Beta Sigma Phi organizations and cherished many friendships along the way.
In 1975, Shirley started Gilco Trucking Company, Inc. in Portsmouth, Virginia which quickly became a national trucking company under her guidance. In the beginning, she was the only woman in a room full of men, this did not intimidate her at all. During Shirley’s 45 years of leadership at Gilco and her active involvement in the trucking community, she created an environment where owner-operators could earn an honest wage which allowed independent business owners to be successful in the business community. One of Shirley’s crowning achievements was to break through the glass ceiling and become the first female president of the Virginia Maritime Association. She was also the first female member of The Propeller Club. In addition, she was one of the founding members of the Tidewater Motor Truck Association. She was widely respected within the industry and recognized as a profound influence on the trucking community and especially to the women in the industry she cheered along the way. Shirley was truly a Port Champion. Atlantic Coast Express, Marine Freight Company and Gilco Trucking Company employees past and present all have extraordinary pride and respect for the machine Shirley created in the intermodal cargo transportation arena.
Shirley married the love of her life, Ronald J. Roebuck, on September 07, 1991, in a small chapel in Virginia Beach. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She is survived by her husband Ronald J. Roebuck; her three daughters, Tammy and husband David Mullis, Kelley and husband Mike Long; and Stacey and husband David Bolen; 2 stepchildren, Jennifer and husband Mike Perkins, and David Roebuck; Her sister, Lynette Cowan Vance; niece Janie Vance, husband Jack Mansager and daughter Ella . Shirley is survived by twelve grandchildren, Paul and Brooke Martin, Hollie Martin and Jeremy, Rachael and Johnny McGowan, Morgan Long, Ryan Gilliland, Brea Bolen, Chuckie and Lyndee Bolen, Brandon, Jake and Zack Perkins, Meagan Kent and Noah Roebuck. Nine great grandchildren, Justin, Addison, Elton, Josephine, Johnnie Mae, Joshua, Ryland, Kason and Siobhán.
Shirley is preceded in death by her parents, William Smith and Ella Cowan.
Shirley had so many that loved her and helped her navigate the horrible journey of dementia and the Family would like to express our sincere gratitude to her dear caregivers at The Key, especially Helen Sample who kept her in the form and fashion Shirley was accustomed. You are the Best Helen!
A memorial service will be held at 4 p.m. on August 16, 2024, at Altmeyer Funeral Home and Crematory located at 5033 Rouse Drive, Virginia Beach, VA 23464 with Rick Matthews presiding. In addition, a Celebration of Life will be held to honor Shirley. Details to be provided later.