Theresa T. Pedro-Chatman

When someone is identified as a natural leader, certain images come to mind. First thoughts are of a no-nonsense, tough-minded, dedicated and disciplined person. This description accurately fits Theresa T. Pedro-Chatman who was indeed a born manager. She will be remembered as being highly organized, practical and realistic. She was a person who always carried a strong sense of duty with her throughout her life. Possessed with traditional “old school” morals, Theresa was an individual who clearly communicated to those around her just who she was and what she was all about. Everyone acquainted with Theresa knew her as a well-respected woman who was a stable force in her community.

Theresa was born on April 25, 1983 at Broward General Medical Center in Fort Lauderdale. Her parents were Cecelia Brown and Steven Brown (Step dad), father was Pedro. Theresa was raised in Coral Springs, Florida. Even as a youngster, Theresa learned to be objective and decisive. Her faith in the principles of authority and dependability was something that she carried with her throughout her life.

As a young girl, Theresa was able to put her natural abilities to work. She was a bit like the sergeant of the family, helping to make sure that the others did what they should do and that they avoided those things they were not’t supposed to. In other words, she liked to organize and direct. Theresa was raised with four siblings. She had two older brothers Joseph and Michael and one older sister Rose (Cecelia). Theresa had an inborn appreciation for the order in the family, allowing for the oldest members to be the most respected and to take on the most responsibility. For Theresa, this was a natural order of life, one she gladly embraced.

Theresa's matter-of-fact attitude about most things was developed during her childhood. As a young girl, Theresa enjoyed being part of teams, and organizations and groups of other kids who shared similar interests. Theresa took part in cheer leading. She was a in the orchestra, choir, crime watch and jazz dancing. In her spare time she liked collecting socks and listening to music and wrestling and collecting sponge bob items. Theresa's memorable achievements included A,B Merit Award and Award for Excellence in Art.

In school, Theresa was as close to being a model student as one could possibly imagine. She sought to achieve perfect attendance in all of her classes. She would eagerly complete her homework, and often put in extra study time when she felt it was necessary. A logical and focused thinker, Theresa was always good at following directions and meeting her schedules, whether they were set by her teachers or were self-imposed. Theresa’s personal motto could well have been, “Do it right the first time.” She graduated from Coral Springs High in 2002. She enjoyed some courses more than others, having favorite classes and teachers. Her favorite class in high school was Social Studies, History and Elective Chorus. The teacher she enjoyed learning from the most was the chorus teacher Mrs. Salo. She was one of the few selected to perform at Carnegie Hall and sign language.

Theresa’s practical work ethic carried over into her college years. Her logical mind permitted her to work hard without succumbing to the usual distractions of college life. She would tackle an assignment and work through it before moving onto the next project. Theresa’s orderly nature gave way to establishing personal study habits and procedures that not only helped her stay on track but often put her ahead of schedule. When Theresa saw the need or benefit, she would willingly take on the extra assignment or even attend extra classes in order to learn more and become a better student. She earned her Community College of the Air Force degree in 2015. Her favorite course was philosophy.

Theresa was sociable and approachable. Because she was always so straightforward in how she approached relationships, friends and family knew that what they saw was always what they got. She enjoyed the camaraderie of being with a group of friends. When Theresa was a member of a group, her interaction worked to keep the others grounded. She wasn’t afraid to confront her friends and, when necessary, she challenged them to stick to the task at hand. Those close to Theresa came to expect her high standards of performance. While growing up, some of her best friends were Stacey, Janelle and Janice. Later in life, she became friends with Jason Price, Chan Horton and Tish Thornberg.

An objective and conscientious individual, Theresa reveled in the security of her family. One of Theresa’s most endearing qualities was her uncanny ability to remember important dates and anniversaries, and her unending enthusiasm for organizing a celebration for her family and friends.

Theresa was ever watchful of her children. She worried about them and was deeply concerned for their development as they grew up. She maintained a firm hand in their upbringing. Theresa would give her stamp of approval to their requests, as long as she could see how they might benefit. She also had the ability to enforce the rules as needed to ensure that her children were properly raised. Theresa was blessed with Three, One son Alizijah and two daughters Amyia and Kamala.

Being a hard worker who praised efficiency, Theresa was always striving to make improvements where they were necessary. She was able to analyze situations and problems, keeping everything and everyone on track. An excellent project supervisor, Theresa was a person who could quickly make decisions based on the information available. She worked cooperatively and expected the same from her colleagues. In both her personal and professional environments, Theresa upheld her standards. Her primary occupation was active duty in the United States Air Force. She was employed for 12 years. Theresa was a team player who certainly lived out the motto of “give me a job, and I will get it done.”

Theresa was active duty in the Air Force. Her sense of duty helped lead her into the military where her understanding of rank, her willingness to abide by rules and regulations and her desire to follow orders was admired by her fellow service men and women. She was in the force support squadron. Theresa saw action for Operation Iraqi Freedom. Through her hard work and dedication, she achieved the rank of Technical Sergeant. She received several awards recognizing her for her heroism, including a two commendation medals and four achievement medals.

Theresa approached her leisure time in the same manner that she approached her life. A person who enjoyed being neat and orderly and one who understood the nature of things, she appreciated the hours she was able to devote to her various hobbies. Her favorite pursuits were outdoor adventures. She loved hiking and going to the beach. Theresa was content to enjoy her favorite pastimes alone but was also willing to share her interests with others.

Playing by the rules was a natural thing for Theresa to do in life and that carried over to her enjoyment of sports. In high school, Theresa played football and ran cross country. Recreational sports included jogging and working out. She also was something of a sports fan and enjoyed watching her favorite events whenever she got the opportunity. Tops on her list were football and baseball.

Being generous with her time and energy, Theresa liked to belong to a variety of groups and organizations. She was a vocal leader who enjoyed being a part of things. Her desire to uphold traditions and her ability to take charge of any type of project made her a tremendous asset. In high school, Theresa was a member of the chorus, crime watch and debate team. Throughout her later years, Theresa was an active member of the O. E. S Eastern Star.

A civic-minded person, Theresa was usually ready to jump in and help with community activities. She was the type of person who could masterfully organize events and projects and then see to it that they were run in an efficient and timely manner. Theresa was a member of several community groups, including serving on committees for the it takes a village. Served food to the homeless twice a month at New Covenant Church. Politically, Theresa. During these years, Theresa applied her analytical intellect to problem solving and so was an asset on most committees.

Faith was important to Theresa. She held high moral standards and was worried about the moral decay she saw around her. For that reason she held deep spiritual beliefs that she was willing to share. She was a member at New Covenant Church. During that time, she participated in youth programs.

When it came time to travel or take a vacation, Theresa used her scheduling expertise to make sure everyone and everything was ready to go. That also meant that she made certain no single person was overworked in putting the trip together. Theresa had a knack for making sure that everyone who was involved had their specific tasks and that those tasks were completed. Favorite vacations included trips to Paris, France and Jamaica.

Theresa was a lover of animals and cherished her pets. One of Theresa’s favorites was Bruno a boxer dog. They were best friends for Bruno for 2 years. Her family was rounded out by her cats Mimi and Coco. Mimi for four years and Coco for 15 years.

Theresa passed away on May 8, 2014 at Cheyenne Regional Medical Facility in Cheyenne, Wyoming. She is survived by her wonderful husband James, and three beautiful children Amyia, Alizijah and Kamala. Theresa was laid to rest in Forest Lawn Memorial Gardens South in Davie, Florida.

All who knew her would agree that Theresa was a pillar of the community. She lived her life with her feet firmly on the ground. She had a strong work ethic, was pragmatic in her thoughts and acts, and constantly sought the means for self-improvement. She was willing to share her ideas and knowledge for the benefit of others, so that they could accomplish more in their lives. Theresa T. Pedro-Chatman did her best to ensure that her family, friends, loved ones, co-workers, and everyone whose life she touched was given the chance to become a better person.