Tressa graduated from Starks High School in 1951, attended college briefly, and worked in Galveston, Texas, before earning her degree from Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, Louisiana, in 1961. She later attended LSU in Baton Rouge, where she received her Master's degree and Master's plus 30. Tressa dedicated over twenty years to teaching fourth grade before retiring to care for a sick sibling.
Outside of her professional life, Tressa was passionate about many activities. She was an avid reader, a lover of jigsaw puzzles, and enjoyed playing dominos with friends and family. For many years, she was an active member of a bowling league. She also enjoyed traveling, creating lasting memories with her family and friends. Tressa also devoted over 1500 hours to volunteering at Baptist Hospital in Beaumont, Texas. She was a dedicated member of First Baptist Church of Starks and was deeply loved by her family and friends.
Tressa spent most of her life in Starks, Louisiana, before moving to a retirement community in Beaumont in 2018. Due to her diagnosis of FTD that caused her to lose the ability to speak, she moved to Brenham, Texas, in 2021 to be near her sister, who assisted her with communication with others.
Tressa was preceded in death by her parents, George L. and Ada Berwick; and her five older siblings, Opal A. Strahan, J.T. Berwick, Elouise Farris, Elton Berwick, and Lela M. McClain. She is survived by her brother, Samuel Berwick of Starks; her sisters, Annie B. Worthy of Conroe, Texas; Janett Reece of Meridian, Mississippi; Lilly M. Golden of Willis, Texas; and Becky Phillips (Leonard) of Brenham, Texas. She also leaves behind numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, and many special friends.
A funeral service will be held on Friday, September 19, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. at First Baptist Church of Starks, with the Rev. Ron Butler officiating. Burial will follow at Miller Cemetery in Starks, under the direction of Hixson Funeral Home of Vinton. Visitation will be from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, September 18, at the church, and from noon until the time of the service on Friday.
The family would like to express heartfelt gratitude to Hospice Brazos Valley for their care and kindness over the past 18 months, as well as to the caregivers who supported Tressa, particularly Merlean Henry, who lovingly cared for her five days a week for seven months as she would her own mother. Words of comfort may be shared with the family at www.hixsonfuneralhomes.com.
