Theresa Noel

Theresa was born in Lexington, Mississippi, to Peoria Gertrude Travis and Marvin Earl Travis. Raised in Lexington as one of ten daughters, Theresa’s life of faith began early. At the age of 13, she was baptized at Westgrove Missionary Baptist Church.

Even as a young girl, Theresa showed signs of the gifts that would later become part of her life’s work. While living in the family home, she would braid the hair of her mother and sisters. She attended Lexington Attendance Center (LAC) High School and later pursued her passion for hair and beauty by attending BEAUTY/COSMETOLOGY SCHOOL.

Theresa married Willie Noel, who preceded her in death. Together, family became one of the greatest joys of her life. Theresa was blessed with three children, Verna, Willetter, and Ronald, and her family continued to grow across generations.

A Life of Work, Faith, and Service

Theresa lived in Chicago, Illinois; Memphis, Tennessee; Columbus, Georgia; and Woodstock, Georgia during different seasons of her life.

She initially worked in a factory that manufactured plastic products before becoming a licensed beautician in Chicago. Her talent and relationships with her customers remained important to her even after she relocated to Columbus. She would occasionally travel back to Chicago to continue doing the hair of longtime customers.

Her faith remained a cornerstone throughout her life. Theresa was an active member of Revival Fellowship Church of God in Christ in Chicago and later became a member of New Revival Christian Center in Columbus.

Retirement did not mean sitting on the sidelines. Theresa continued giving her time to others, including serving as a chaperone for youth sports in Columbus. She especially enjoyed seeing her children and grandchildren participate in sports.

Who Was Granny?

To know Theresa was to know a woman who was loving, giving, considerate, compassionate, and resilient.

She loved fishing, cooking, flowers, gardening, gospel music, and spending time with her family. Among her favorite foods were fish, greens, and chicken.

But the things her family will remember most cannot be captured by a résumé or a list of accomplishments. They will remember her smile. They will remember the way she greeted people and how easily she introduced herself to someone new. They will remember a woman who saw a person in need and did not wait to be asked before helping.

Her sister Synola remembers that when Theresa lived on the West Side of Chicago, people would come around in need, and Theresa would give them a meal—or whatever else she could provide if she had it to give.

Her sister Mae remembers Theresa once driving down a Chicago street on a bitterly cold day and seeing someone walking without a coat. Theresa stopped her car, got out, and gave the person her own coat.

That generosity was not something she outgrew.

Even during the final year of her life, while staying in a rehabilitation facility, Theresa’s concern remained with the people around her. She would wheel herself into other patients’ rooms simply to sit with them, talk to them, and offer companionship.

Her great-nephew Thomas remembers walking into her house and hearing her say: “There is my son!” When he asked why she called him that, Theresa explained that he had been at her house all the time and that she had helped raise him. “Y’all are all my children.” That was Granny.

Family was not merely a matter of blood or title. If Theresa loved you, she had a way of making you feel that you belonged to her.

The Things She Said

Those who loved Theresa will also remember the sayings that were uniquely hers.

- When something was one-size-fits-all, Granny called it a “fit ’em.”

- Ask how she was doing, and you might hear: “I’m too blessed!”

- Ask whether she wanted something to eat, and she might insist: “I’m not hungry, but it smells good. What are y’all cooking?”

- And there was the affectionate question that family members knew so well: “I just love you so much. You don’t love me?”

These simple words, her smile, her humor, and the warmth with which she greeted people are among the memories her family will carry forward.

Her Family and Legacy

Theresa was immensely proud of her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and the generations that continued to grow from the family she loved so deeply.

She leaves to cherish her memory her three children: Verna, Willetter, and Ronald;

Her 13 grandchildren:

Travis (Krystal), Randy, Kiyahnta, Candace, Terry Jr. (Susan), Terita, Regina, Jaree, Calvin, Ronald Jr., Evelyn (Dameico), Zxarria, and Erik;

Her 32 great-grandchildren:

Lance Jr., Tierra, Demarco, Trevon, Travis Jr., Nateena, Reginald, Andrenae, Ariel, Ronald Jr., Marshun, Mari, Marlon, Dahje, Deandre Jr., Brielle Juńe, Devoncia, Devine, Devion, Devin, Azante, Reshuntay, Myrita, Ashanti, Marquell, Marvell, JaNyah, Jeremiah, Giovanni, Genesis, Jacelyn, and Madalayn;

Her 12 great-great-grandchildren:

Majóur, Demante, Dior, Ky’Heir, Samir, Malaya, Breille, Syleste, Martavious, Pasley, Pashyen, and Paiden — with another bundle of joy on the way as her legacy continues.

Theresa also leaves to cherish her memory her two surviving sisters, Synola Okparaji and Mae Ernest; her godsons, Dwayne McDaniel Sr. and Jesse Gaither; and a host of nieces, nephews, extended family members, church family, friends, and others whose lives were made better because Theresa was part of them.

Preceded in Death

Theresa was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Willie Noel; her parents, Peoria Gertrude Travis and Marvin Earl Travis; and seven sisters.

She was also preceded in death by two grandchildren, Thenika and Ronald McCoy, and three great-grandchildren, Marquis, Rishawn, and Calvin Jr.

Her Legacy Continues

Theresa taught her family to give everything you can and to be resilient. She did more than teach those values. She lived them.

She fed people when they were hungry. She gave when she saw a need. She offered companionship to people who were lonely. She opened her home and her heart. She loved her family fiercely, while somehow finding room to make others feel like family, too.

Her legacy lives in her children, her grandchildren, her great-grandchildren, her great-great-grandchildren, the new life still on the way, and the countless people who experienced her generosity and compassion.

Perhaps one of the most fitting ways her family has described Theresa is also one of the simplest: She was whole, and her wholeness enveloped you.

Her family will miss her smile, her sayings, her cooking, her generosity, her faith, her humor, and the unmistakable way she made people feel loved.

And when asked how she was doing, Granny’s answer said so much about the way she approached life: “I’m too blessed, BLESSED BY THE BEST!”

That blessing now lives on in every generation she leaves behind.