Engineer Teruwork Baheta Teklu

On Sunday March 7, 2021, Engineer Teruwork Baheta Teklu, a passionate wife, wonderful mother, and grandmother, eternally joined her beloved husband, Engineer Belete Aklilu, who unexpectedly passed away on February 15, 2021.

Eng. Teruwork was born on May 22, 1950 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia to Fitawrari Baheta Teklu, and Woizero Kelemework Wendmayehu. She comes from a traditionally rooted Christian Orthodox family where she was a devoted member of the Bisrate Gabriel Church in Addis Ababa.

Eng. Teruwork completed her secondary school at the Nativity Girls’ School in Addis Ababa. She then transferred to Tegbareid Technical & Vocational Training College, one of the most prominent and earliest institutes with the objective of producing technical skilled workforce for Ethiopia. In the traditionally male-dominated field of Engineering, she broke the gender barrier by becoming the first woman to attend the school and received her technical diploma in Road Design. Her achievement as the ‘first woman graduate’ of Tegbareid was recognized by His Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie I of Ethiopia during her graduation ceremony and published in various newspapers.

Eng. Teruwork earned her Civil Engineering degree from Addis Ababa University – School of Engineering. She began her career with Ethiopian Roads Authority where she met her beloved husband of over fifty-years, the late Engineer Belete Aklilu. While at Ethiopian Roads Authority, she embarked on several building, road, and bridge design projects: including the iconic Bahir Dar Airport. Afterwards, she began private consulting business where was instrumental in managing several building, road, and bridge design projects throughout the country. In addition, she provided consulting services for several prominent organizations, such as the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), at various capacities.

Eng. Teruwork, who was also known as “Terri” by most, has made numerous contributions to her community, including her secondary school Nativity Girls School, and was loved by her peers. She was a very mellow and kindhearted person who enjoyed the outdoors and the beautiful garden at her house in Addis Ababa. She was a passionate member of neighborhood “Mehaber” and enjoyed sharing fruits and flowers from her garden with friends and neighbors. Terri also had a passion for music and grew up listening to Disco and Classic Country music.

Eng. Teruwork is survived by her four beloved children; Yodit, Bezi, Dereje, and Ephrem; four grandchildren; Gabriella, Henock, Mathias and Veronica; brother Ato. Liben Baheta, and sister Woizero Negat Gebremariam. Eng. Teruwork and the late Eng. Belete had recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in Raleigh, NC where they have called home for the past nine years. Her beautiful smile and legacy will live on as we cherish her memory forever.

A grave site private memorial service will be held on Saturday, March 13, 2021 at 2:30 pm in Raleigh Memorial Park. The service will be recorded and posted to the Facebook Page of Mitchell Funeral Home at Raleigh Memorial Park afterwards, for those unable to attend.

Flowers ordered for the service may be delivered to Mitchell Funeral Home on Friday afternoon by 4:30 pm or Saturday morning by 12 Noon. If you would like to leave a message of condolence to the family, you may do so below within "add a memory".