Thelma Patricia Brewer Terrell, a devoted family matriarch, dedicated nurse, and tireless community servant, passed away peacefully at her home in Chesapeake, Virginia, on July 11, 2026. She was 88 years old.
Born on October 3, 1937, in Wilkes County, Georgia, to Jesse Calvin Brewer and Berniece Welborn Brewer, Thelma was the second of nine children. Growing up on a farm, she embraced the role of caregiver from an early age, helping her parents by managing the household and raising her younger siblings. She worshipped and attended school at New Ford Baptist Church, Tignal. GA, where she excelled as class valedictorian—an early indicator of the faith, intelligence and drive that would define her life.
Education was always a cornerstone of Thelma’s journey. After graduating from the Grady Memorial Hospital School of Nursing in Atlanta, Georgia, she pursued a path of service, enlisting in the United States Army Nurse Corps. Serving as a Second Lieutenant at Walter Reed Hospital in Washington, D.C., she provided expert surgical care. Among her most cherished memories from her military service was caring for President Dwight D. Eisenhower, with whom she occasionally played cards.
Following an honorable discharge from the Army, Thelma began a long and distinguished career in nursing. She worked at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in Washington, D.C. During a trip to Toccoa to spend time with their families, she met Thomas Terrell who became her husband and the love of her life. The couple lived in Washington and later moved to Brooklyn, New York, where she served in the psychiatric ward at Kings County Hospital (Brooklyn Hospital). In 1971, they settled in Bay Shore, Long Island, to raise their three children. There, Thelma devoted 30 years of service to Southside Hospital as a dedicated pediatric nurse, known for her skill, compassion, and unwavering commitment to her young patients.
Beyond her professional life, Thelma was a pillar of her community. She was deeply involved in the lives of her children and neighbors, serving as a den mother for the Boy Scouts, a troop leader for the Girl Scouts, a class mother, and a team mother. Her faith was central to her identity; at Durham AME Zion Church in Bay Shore, she served as a stewardess, sang in the choir, and organized numerous fundraisers, including the beloved Annual Hog Killing.
In 2001, after they had both retired, Thomas and Thelma moved to Toccoa, Georgia, to be close to their families. For the next 23 years, Thelma continued an active life, becoming a deaconess at Mt. Zion Baptist Church, a member of the Busy Bee Club, and a volunteer for Vacation Bible School. She remained civically engaged, working the polls on Election Day, serving on the board of the Stephens County Credit Union, and helping organize the Black Christian Men’s Group’s annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Oratorical Contest. Whether gardening, birdwatching, or enjoying classical music, she lived with an open heart and a spirit of service.
Following the passing of her husband, Thomas, Thelma moved to Chesapeake, Virginia, to reside with her son, Tommy, and daughter-in-law, Lori. They would like to extend a special heartfelt appreciation to a dear friend, Victoria Arnold for the exceptional love, compassion, and devoted care she provided to Thelma over the past two years.
Thelma is survived by her children: Michael, Michelle (and her husband, Ali), and Thomas, Jr. “Tommy” (and his wife, Lori). She also leaves behind her sister, Mabel Cochran (and her husband, Murray); her brothers, Ollie Brewer (and his wife, Rita), Clifford Brewer (and his wife, Katherine), Milton Brewer (and his wife, Sonja), and Dennis Brewer; as well as a host of grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren, nieces, and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Thomas; her parents, Jesse and Berneice; her brothers, Jesse Jr. and Simon and her sister Evelyn.
Thelma will be remembered for her intelligence, strength, and unwavering commitment to serving God, her family, and her community. Her legacy of compassion and quiet leadership will live on in the hearts of all who knew and loved her.
