From the moment we met, my "mutha in law" always made me feel welcome. Our first encounter was the Christmas of 2014. She welcomed me with open arms, and made me feel like we'd know each other for years. From that moment on, I knew I'd picked the right family to want to be a part of. As time went on, I became her "other daughter", and she never hesitated to tell me "thank you" for coming into Natasha's life. I would blush, and say thank you, not knowing how important a roll I would play in the coming years. When I decided to go to Nursing School, she was my biggest cheerleader. She definitely filled my own mother's shoes when it came to rooting me on, and believing that I could be successful. Every test day she would call or text to see how I made out on my test. She would encourage me on the bad days, and celebrate with me on the good ones. And no matter how down I would get when things weren't going my way, she would never let me give up. Her love and encouragement definitely helped me accomplish my dreams of becoming a nurse. But her biggest contribution to my life was Natasha. Terri not only encouraged me, but she also trusted me, with her most prized possession. She saw something in me that, as it was told to me, she had never seen in anyone else Natasha had brought home. She told me she had never seen Natasha as happy before, as she did when she was with me. Thanksgiving day 2015, I asked her for Natasha's hand in marriage. I cried and cried and cried. She just hugged me, and said of course! Why are you crying?! Did you really think I would say no?! I wiped my tears away, and we laughed about it, and discussed the upcoming proposal. From then on, I never had a doubt about Terri's love for me. Her only request from that day on was that I always take care of her "baby." I promised her then, and I promise her now, that I will always take care of her baby, like she took care of me. I love you always. "Savy"


I will never forget all the crazy conversations we had every time it was a gathering... The eyelashes was something I was suppose to show you how to do and we never got a chance to but you in a better place now and not suffering but when we meet again I will show you in heaven....

My favorite memory is when our mothers met for the first time at one of our favorite food hang-outs, Alicia's. Our moms hit it off because they were so much alike.  Also, they both suffered from "short-women" complex: bossy!  I will miss hearing your mom say "Mo, talk to her"!  My friend, know that you were truly loved!

Well my favorite memory is of the Christmas gathering where one of the gifts was a waffle maker. When she said that's one of those like they have at the HO TEL LOL. She made it into two different words we laughed so much that night.  That's when I fell in love with her as a person.  Although we only saw each other at the holidays it was always something I looked forward to.  Now I know she's in heaven still sharing that bright light.  

The woman I have called friend, confidant, but most of all my mother, and in my opinion the best mother in the world is gone. I will miss her more than she will ever know, there are no words for the sorrow my heart feels right now!!! The amount of laughter she brought to my life always being so silly & crazy. I will miss her laugh & her country twang, she knew how to make a 2 syllable word at least 4 syllables. I will always remember the fun we had in dressing rooms, we always knew how to make being too fat to fit in to clothes something comical. Best moment I can remember was shopping for wedding dresses & I forgot to put on panties, and of course sample dresses never fit anyone more than a size six, so the consultant was trying to stuff me in to this dress & my whole heinie was hanging out, and I said “mom give me your panties” she was like what!!! So she commenced to give me the biggest white cotton full brief panty I had ever seen, I was like how in the world do you wear this parachute as panties!! 😂😂 My mother, me, and the consultant laughed for at least 5 minutes straight. That was one the best days of my life. I will see her again when my journey here is over, until then she will live in my heart and in all the wonderful memories we made. Love you to the moon and back mom.
I Promise I won’t speed, I’ll wear my seatbelt, because I know I’m your only child!!

July 13, 2018
 7:30 AM

I just woke up from a dream, I was having a conversation with Terri, while riding in a vehicle on some type of road trip. We were talking about why the water in Houston was so bad, and why did it taste so bad. 

I told her,  It was from the chemicals they put in it to make it drinkable., and even if it did taste funny, it was OK to drink. 

She then started looking up my nose and said, gimme some pliers so I can get that gray hair out of your nose. I said stop it, leave it alone. She said that it did not matter that I said the water was good to drink, Social Media said not to drink it, no matter what.

 She again started looking up my nose, so I began to attempt to pull  out the gray hair, so that I could throw it on her. She then turned to Dixie and said, give me those pliers, and if you pull it out and throw it on me, then I’m going to throw this worm on you.

 I told her that you don’t pull nose hairs out with pliers, you use tweezers. And that she knows that I’m not scared of worms anyway, you know what I’m scare of and you don’t have any of those.

 At that point I woke up, and was so glad that I had been talking to her. It made me realize how much I was going to miss all of the stupid conversations we would have with each other, and how she had been such an intricate part of my life for the past 44 years.

I hope to keep her in my dreams, until we meet again, Love You Hammie.

Terri and I grew up together as next door neighbors. We had a lifetime of good times together. I could share so many memories of me and Terri growing up together on Homewood. If I wasn't at her house she was at mine. She was like a sister to me. I have a lot of great memories of her and will forever miss my life long friend. I will miss seeing her at our Smiley Reunions and working with her on the food line. God bless Daniel and Natasha as they continue on without her. Cherish the memories and know we will see her again. Terri Lynn "I will miss you forever" and never forget you! Part of my heart has gone with you!!

Terri Lynn Hooper Cheatwood was a dear childhood friend.  She was best friend's with my sister, Marianne Spencer.  Her sister, Dixie, was my best friend.  Our families were neighbors and were church members at Loyalty Baptist Church.  There were so many wonderful memories that we all shared together.  One memory in particular that I can recall was Dixie and Terri spending the night with Marianne and I, (we girls stayed up late and watched Calamity Jane with Doris Day and also we played Monopoly and Life)!  Those were great times back then!  Terri was always cracking jokes and making us laugh!  Rest In Peace Terri Lynn!  Love, Sharon Spencer Trawick

I loved my sister Terri more than words can describe.   We had our moments but we loved each other.  I am so glad we spent 18 months remodeling our moms house to get it ready to sell.  I will cherish those memories forever.  I spent 6 nights with Terri in the hospital but only July 6th and 7th were we able to communicate.  There are so many things I wished we had talked about while I was there.   Losing my sister is the hardest thing I have had to endure and I know God's Grace will carry me through but the pain is real. Terri was the fun sister who loved to tell stories.  I don't know how she was able to  tell stories and keep most of the facts in order but everyone loved to hear her tell stories.  She remembered things I cannot remember and I wish we could sit down and I could write them all out.   Everyone LOVED Terri and she had a lot of friends.  We took vacations together, skied together shopped together and worked together and so much more.  Standing in line at Best Buy on Black Friday at 4 and 5 am was what we did so many times.  We talked on the phone almost every day and I catch myself just wanting to call her and chat about our day.   One day we will meet again.   So many memories   of my SISTER Terri Lynn fill my thoughts as I write this today.   I loved her and that was the last thing I told her as I left on July 7th 2018.

How can you share a lifetime of memories in such a short space? You were a silly, funny, crazy kid from the beginning. Always a laugh or a comeback or just plain silly you were. So many stories come to mind. We moved into the new house on Homewood when you were a year old. You were a small baby and mom kept you in a box with a pillow in it on the kitchen table. When she went out to hang up clothes we should get the box with you in it off the table. Then with Dixie at one end of the hall and me at the other we would push you back and forth to each other. You would laugh and laugh and laugh. Sometimes we would get caught and mom would give us a spanking with the fly swatter. In later years we would say that what was wrong with you was your brain must have been damaged from pushing you up and down in the hall. You were such a character making live better and funny for others. I will miss you more than words can express. Rest in peace baby sister.

With great love and admiration your big sis Ann.

Terri brought so much happiness and joy to my life and we made lasting memories growing up.  Both living on Homewood Lane since birth, we immediately became best friends and were inseparable.  Not being old enough to attend public school at 5 years of age with an October 12th and November 4th birthday we started private school together. Her phone number OR4-0176 is still remembered because I called her constantly.  Terri, the life of the party, kept me laughing and having fun throughout our school day years.  I can remember picking berries in the country, hanging off the back of our station wagon holding onto the luggage rack while my older sister practiced her quick stops, doing the twist on the back of my uncle's convertible while driving down the lane at my grandfather's house, camping out in the backyard in tents made of clothes pins for hanging laundry, picking tomatoes in my dad's garden while the rains were pouring after Sunday night church, the Heap O' Cream after church, an going to Peach Creek Christian camp with our older sisters and devising a plan to have them both thrown in the shower by our counselors.  Terri kept me laughing and brought so much joy to me as well as my family. I can still see her shifting the gears on that old Ford Falcon as we drove to Smiley High School, Terri all of a sudden had one of her crazy ideas.  She said " I do not want to go to school today.  Let's skip!"  I said "Why not" and we had our own Ferris Bueller's Day Off at the movies, Foley's and Princess hamburgers. Terri had such an impact on every part of my life.  At the Smiley reunion, she advised me to look at my life and try to retire as she had done to enjoy life.  She told me about her fifth wheel and all of the traveling she was going to do with Daniel, her wonderful husband.  Everything she said resonated with me to the point where I took her advice.  Terri's beautiful spirit will live on in my life as my life would not have been the same without my best friend.

My friend will forever be missed, may the memories and laughter we had ring on in my thoughts forever.  You will be missed my crazy friend "Penny Homewood" I love you.

Mrs.Cheatwood was one of the nicest person i every met. She was my manager at Park West. Every year I celebrate my birthday  at Pappadeaux, and I insist that she be there. Last time she was sick, and could not make it. This time I called to invite her, and didn't get a response. Now I know why. She had  a BEAUTIFUL SPIRIT, I LOVE HER, SHE TRULY WILL BE MISSED .


Mrs. Cheatwood,
Although you may not remember me, I had the opportunity to meet you once at your beautiful daughter’s wedding.;Natasha, or as I know her Professor Martin. She is the best educator anyone could ever ask for. She provided me the knowledge, determination, and desire to pursue what was once unimaginable dreams. 
I wanted to personally thank you for raising such an amazing, caring, and kindhearted young women. You did an incredible job! You truly exceeded anyone expectations at the most challenging job in the world, that of being a mother. 
Thank you for your contributions to this amazing world. 
Sincerely 
Parema Alizadeh Enriquez 


I love Terri with all my heart. We grew up in the church together. We had such agreat time as teenagers. We rode to school together and laughed until we cried.  We skipped school together and got caught.  I didn’t talk to her for years s but we could always pick up where we left off. 
I will miss my friend so much. Love you Terri Lynn. I have such great memories of our teenage years. 

Love, 
Jinnie (Yates) Washmon

Sweet friend, Thanks for your help on the serving lines at all the Smiley Reunions.
You will be missed by all the Smiley Alumni.  We LOVE YOU.  Rest In Peace our Sweet Friend.

Mrs. Terri Cheatwood (Mama T) was the sweetest, funniest woman with a heart of gold! She welcomed you with open arms and gave your the business as REAL as it could get..lol! I’m going to miss the laughs and fun times I had with her and the family..memories I will cherish for life! Rest is heaven peacefully beautiful...with love always from The Wilson’s!

Heaven has another angel. I worked with Terri for many years at SW Bell always with a smile always happy with only kind thoughts for others we spent many years working in the same  group often laughter filled our days along with the joy that Terri brought everyday. We had a reunion a few years ago  Terri was still the happiest person there.  

I married my best friend March 31, 1984.
Terri brought me out of my shell and taught me to live life to the fullest. We shared a lot of good times and made a lot of memories. She was always upbeat and God did bless me a hundred times over with the love of my life. Although I failed to tell her often enough I will never stop loving her until the end of time.

I knew Terri from work at SBC/ATT several years ago. Her kindness has never been forgotten. She always had something kind to say and was a very supportive and sweet co-worker. May God hold all friends and family in his arms and provide his peace and comfort during this difficult time.

 Terri would call me on the 10th of August and sing Happy Birthday. I would tell her  to call me tomorrow.   Next year she would call on the 13th and sing me Happy Birthday.  I would tell her she was  2 days late.  I finally told her since her birthday was 10/12 just remember the 11th was mine.   Always got the month right though!  I am gonna miss my best friend so much.

Visitation

Funeral Service

Reception

Terri’s passing was preceded by her mother and father, Bertha Hooper-Jones and Robert Lee Hooper. She is survived by her husband of 34 years, Daniel J. Cheatwood; daughter, Natasha Louise Gibbs, daughter-in-law, Nichelle J’Elene Gibbs, and former spouse, Anthony Martin-Taylor, Natasha’s father.

Terri is also survived by loving sisters and their families, Martha Ann McConnell (sister), Johnny McConnell (brother-in-law), Michelle Read (niece), Jason McConnell (nephew), Dixie Lee Shaw (sister), Eddie Shaw (brother-in-law), Aaron Shaw (nephew), Nathan Shaw (nephew), Jonathan Shaw (nephew), Rachel Mandreger (niece), and Hannah Bradley (niece), great nephews and nieces and her beloved cousin Wayne Hopkins, and her two dogs Allie and Bella.

OBITUARY

Terri Lynn Cheatwood

October 12, 1954 – July 12, 2018

Earthman Funeral Directors

Show your support

Add a Memory

Share Obituary

Get Updates

Services