Theresa Anne Irby's spirit departed from us on June 16, 2024, on Father's Day, at the age of 75. Dwight R. Sullivan and his oldest son, Dwan E. Sullivan, were with her to celebrate the occasion just two hours before her passing. Father's Day had always been special to Theresa and Dwight, her Life Partner of 36 years. Although they did not share a child together, she always made Father's Day special for Dwight.

Theresa succumbed to cancer after a short but valiant battle while being cared for at Aspire on Evans. In her final days, she was still sharing her knowledge, kindness, and energetic spirit, with both staff and patients. Theresa honed these traits after attending Gradwohl Laboratory Technicians School, where she would learn to become a phlebotomist and an oncologist technical assistant for children, eventually working with Dr. Taub and Associates in Beverly Hills, CA.

Theresa was born on February 7, 1949, to Beatrice and Levi Wade, in St. Louis, Missouri. Shortly after obtaining her degree, she moved to California to be closer to her sister, Connie. Theresa met Dwight on July 28, 1988, the day after Connie's birthday, and they remained together for the rest of her life, spending the last six years in Ft. Myers, Florida.

Theresa was an intelligent, beautiful and caring individual that loved family and friends. Of her many interests, she enjoyed music, R&B and gospel, horticulture (over 100 orchids in California, among other flora and fauna), bowling, golf, horseback riding, boating, tennis, sewing, cooking, and owned a catering business with her sister, Connie. Theresa belonged to several social clubs and loved to model, once modeling with Richard Roundtree for a charitable event. She also appeared on the tv series, Murphy Brown, and appeared in movies such as Waterworld and Batman. Theresa and Dwight attended many events and met several entertainers, including Richard Pryor, Angela Bassett, and many others at the Black Academy Awards, Laker games, Victoria Secret parties, the Long Beach Aquarium opening, comedy clubs and concerts.

Theresa was baptized at Mount Olive Baptist Church and leaves behind many who loved her dearly, including her sisters, Joan Wade and Brenda Osby, brother, Irving Wade, niece, Monica Woods, in-laws, Chequita and Abraham Robinson, Sylvia and Yee Kow Lee, niece, Dr. Loleta Robinson, Dwan E. Sullivan, friends, Mabel Hill and Tanya Mosely, and her Life Partner and Best Friend, Dwight R. Sullivan who misses her very much!!

Theresa had always said that Dwight's dear sister, Chequita, was her Angel. What an honor it is for Chequita to now be able to call Theresa her Angel, watching over her, and everyone else.

Please keep Theresa in your thoughts and prayers at 8am on Friday, June 28th, as we head to the beach, a place she loved, and release her ashes into the Gulf of Mexico.

"Remember that you are dust, And to dust you shall return." God's word to Adam in Genesis 3:19 Eternal rest grant unto Theresa, O Lord, And let perpetual lights shine upon her. May she rest in peace.