Teresa Laverne West, sixty-eight, gained her eternal wings and went home to be with the Lord on February 23, 2021, after a brief illness at the residence of her daughter and son-in-law.
Teresa’s sunrise was on June 8, 1952, to the late Leon Harmon, Sr. and Sarah Elizabeth Wharton Harmon in Assawoman, Virginia.
Teresa was educated in Accomack County Public Schools. She was employed at Perdue Farms in Accomac, Virginia for twenty-five years until retirement. She then re-entered the workforce at Arcadia Nursing Rehabilitation Center in Parksley, Virginia for twenty-two years, and there she found her passion until her retirement in 2017.
Teresa was united in holy matrimony to Elizah West for forty years. Teresa and Elizah affectionately referred to each other by their pet names “Joe and Joe Knock.” They enjoyed many outings together, especially their trips to Bingo, the casino, and the morning trips in the wee hours to Royal Farm to get coffee and chat with friends.
Teresa was raised and worshiped the Lord at St. Joseph Holiness Church in Atlantic Virginia. She rededicated her life to the Lord her Savior on December 14, 2020, under the guidance of her nephew, Pastor Albert Lee Bibbins, Jr., in the presence of her daughter. This was a joyful and memorable day! During her brief illness she enjoyed her daughter reading her favorite scripture, Psalm 23.
Teresa was blessed with two daughters, Laverne, who passed away days after birth and Karen. Karen and Teresa shared a bond like no other. Karen was her friend, daughter, and her everything, as was Teresa her mother, who was her friend, and her everything as well.
Teresa was blessed, to have received the loving relationship, and protection from her four grandsons whom she treated as her own.
In addition to her parents, Teresa was preceded in death by her daughter, Laverne Harmon; sisters, Darlene Davis and Queenie Morris; brother, Leon Harmon, Jr.; nephew, John Harmon, Jr.; brothers-in–law; Noah Mills and Robert James, Sr.; and father-in-law, Nelson West.
Teresa leaves to cherish her loving memories: her husband, Elizah West; daughter, Karen Onley (Gary, whom she affectionately called “Puzzle”); grandchildren whom she loved and treated as her own, Markiece O’Bryant Harmon, Keyon Dontrell Harmon, Jabreon Raekwon Onley, and Jakori Rashaad Onley (her caregiver); thirteen great-grandchildren; siblings, John (Valerie) Harmon, Joanne Blake, Jeannette (William) Gardner, Rosie Mills, and Gracie James; uncles, Jerome (Jean) Wharton and Clinton Wharton; stepchildren, Anita Henderson, Demetrius (Kyra) West, Elizah (Keshia) West, Jr., Aneta Ward, and Devonna Manuel; mother-in- law, Frances West; sisters-in-law, Varletta Dennis and Margaret Downing; brothers-in-law, Thomas Davis, Sr., Oliver Morris, and Nelson Ridley; and host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends whom she loved dearly.