Theresa Edith Gross

GARNER- Theresa Edith Gross went home to be with the Lord on June 27, 2018 at 11:47pm. She was 96 years old. She was saved for 46 years. A native Annapolitan, she was born on November 10, 1921 to the late James and Edith Jones. She attended St. Mary’s Colored School and graduated valedictorian. Her favorite teacher was Sister Margaret. At age 15, she became a waitress at Carver Hall, which is the old Pace Mansion in downtown Annapolis. She also worked as a maid for Navy Commander (and 39th President of the United States) Jimmy Carter when he was assigned to the Naval Academy. Starting in 1969, Theresa served 26 years in the Governor’s Mansion as a custodian, beginning with Governor Marvin Mandel and ending with Governor Donald Schaefer. After her tenure at the Governor’s Mansion, she would serve in various legislative government departments for the state of Maryland until her retirement at the age of 68. Theresa married the late Price William Gross in 1975. He passed away on February 10, 1986. In 1972, Theresa became a member of Mt. Zion United Methodist Church in Annapolis, Maryland pastored by Reverend Rufus S. Abernathy. She was a member for 35 years. In 2007, she relocated with her daughter and son in law to Clovis, New Mexico where she attended Faith Christian Family Church for three years. In 2010 she relocated with her family to Fort Washington, Maryland where she attended Mt. Ennon Baptist Church for three years. In 2013 she would relocated one more time to Garner, North Carolina, where she attended Colonial Baptist Church under the leadership of Dr. Stephen Davey. She enjoyed reading her Bible, going to Wednesday night Bible study, knitting, gardening, playing Bingo, and listening to gospel music. She also loved her two dogs Prince and Freeway. A funeral service will be held on Tuesday, July 3rd at 5:00 PM in the Chapel of Bryan-Lee Funeral Home, 1200 Benson Rd. Garner, NC 27529. The burial will take place at a later date in Crownsville Veterans Cemetery in Crownsville, Maryland. In addition to her parents and husband, Theresa was preceded in death by her siblings Marie Taylor, Katherine Brown, Agnes Downs, James Jones, Joseph Jones, and Alphonso Jones. Theresa leaves loving memories with her three daughters Dianna Moore, Angela Gross, and Deborah Pace; son-in-law Tyler Moore; two grandsons Matthew Christian Moore and Joshua Tyler Moore; sister Mae Jones; daughter and son-in-law Corine and James Smitherman; a multitude of other nieces, nephews, cousins, relatives, dear friends; and the Colonial Baptist Church family.