Theresa "Pete" Freeman

She was born Theresa May Nester on August 17, 1927 in Roanoke to Mabel LaVon Cawley and James Oscar Nester, Sr. Exactly 16 months later she was joined by a brother, James Oscar Nester, Jr. Shortly thereafter their father succumbed to pneumonia at the age of 25. They were raised by their widowed mother and especially by their maternal grandparents in their home in Colonial Heights.

Her grandfather, C. E. Cawley had a special place in his heart for this beautiful and spirited girl. He gave her the nickname “Pete”. From her grandmother, Theresa Bea Weamer Cawley, she gained superior skills in cooking, sewing, flower arranging and entertaining, all of which she enjoyed for much of her life.

Pete attended Colonial Heights Elementary and then Anna P. Bolling Junior High in Petersburg where she met James Byron (“Jimmy”) Freeman. They had one date, a Woody Herman Orchestra concert, but he had to wait a full decade for a second date! At Petersburg High School, she was active in service clubs, student government and also played Girls Basketball. She was the Salutatorian of the Class of 1944.

She was exceptionally skilled at stenography and office management. She worked for the Judge Advocate General at U S Army Fort Lee at Petersburg, a job she always ranked as the most interesting and challenging job of her career. She always endeared herself to those she worked with for her strong work ethic, great charm, effortless grace, and keen sense of humor.

Her “Jimmy” reentered her life in 1952, this time to stay, and they were married on May 30, 1953 and made their first home in Suffolk where they were active in the Suffolk Christian Church and she became active in the Junior Woman’s Club. She served as President of the Suffolk chapter for 1955.

Moving to Williamsburg in Spring 1956 they became involved in Williamsburg Baptist Church where she served as Clerk of the Church for nearly 30 years and was one of the first female Deacons. That fall she went to work as Executive Secretary for The Jamestown Foundation and was a key member of the team that made the 350th Anniversary Festival in 1957 such a success.

She enjoyed full time motherhood, and once her son and daughter were in school she became Secretary and Assistant to Samuel Sadler, Vice President of Student Affairs at the College of William and Mary, she was his "right hand" keeping everyone organized and focused on the job at hand. She did this with a smile and warmth, and she was a resource to faculty, staff and students alike and always had an answer and sympathetic ear. When Pete retired after 20 years, she was declared a “Living Institution of the College” and among her gifts was a beautiful gold wristwatch with the College Seal, given her not by the College but as a fond appreciation by the Parents Council, which moved her greatly and she wore it daily until the end of her days.

In retirement, she continued to travel often, loved the beach and shelling, playing bridge with her gals, enjoyed her wine and ice cream, jigsaw puzzles, and being a grandmother. She cherished many memories of the numerous dances sponsored by Williamsburg Cotillion and Williamsburg German.

She was predeceased by her husband of 59 years James Byron Freeman as well as her father, stepfather O. F. Hackler, grandparents, mother, brother and his wife Mary, nephew James O. Nester III. She is survived by a son, James Scott Freeman, a daughter, Teresa Bea Freeman Parker, her husband Jim, two nieces Lynn Nester Simmons of Chesterfield and Mary Jo Nester Smith of Nags Head. She is also survived by four grandchildren Christopher Franklin (Tiffany), Joshua Franklin (Madison), Kelly Parker Kuklis (Tony) and Jordan Parker Schubert (Garrett), and eight great grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, May 18 at Williamsburg Baptist Church at 1 pm with reception to follow. Interment at Cedar Grove Cemetery will be private.

The family would like to extend a sincere thank you to Riverside Hospice, Clare Bridge at Brookdale, and Hospice House of Williamsburg.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Hospice House of Williamsburg, 4445 Powhatan Parkway, Williamsburg VA 23188 or the Organ Fund of Williamsburg Baptist Church, 227 Richmond Road, Williamsburg VA 23185.