Theresa Paul Mears

Theresa was called to heaven on November 13, 2022. She was born in Newport News, VA on March 11, 1937 to the late Frederick and Nellie Hines. She graduated from St. Vincent School and was a lifelong resident of the peninsula. She dedicated her early adult life to being a wife and mother. Later she experimented with careers, which included an investment company and a restaurant owner. Theresa eventually settled in at J.C. Penny’s where she worked in several different departments and later retired after 10 years of service. Theresa loved her family and they were truly her joy. Whether it was a dance recital, baseball game, soccer game, swim meet, drag race, church ceremony, graduation, birthday party, family reunion, family vacation or helping when a new baby was born. All it took was a phone call and Theresa was there. Theresa was a devout Catholic and loved to share her faith. If you ever approached her with a problem, her response would most likely have been “well honey, lets pray about it.”

She is predeceased by her husband Bernard Lawrence Mears, her son-in-law William “Jeff” Bowlin, siblings Mary Toth, Shirley Schindler, James Hines, Frank Hines, Fred Hines, Dennis Hines and Bobby Hines.

She is survived by her children and grandchildren: Margaret Clark, her husband Craig, their children Jessica King and her husband Preston, Elizabeth Clark-Gomez and her husband Daniel Gomez-Nichols, and Devin Clark of Kill Devil Hills, NC; Stephanie Mears, her children Nicholas Mears, Natalie Motley and Emily Motley and her fiancé Nick Nance of Hampton, VA; Allison Sutton, her husband David, their daughters Jennifer Smith and her husband Daniel and Amanda Stassi and her husband Andy of Yorktown VA; Kathrine Bowlin, her children Alexis Bowlin, Olivia Bowlin, and Maxton Bowlin of Kitty Hawk, NC; Stephen Mears and his wife Sharon, their son Ethan Mears and his wife Andrea of Hampton, VA; Samantha DeLucia, her husband John, their children Jonathan DeLucia, Rebecca Vitullo and her husband Cailean, Hannah DeLucia and Jack DeLucia of Kitty Hawk, NC.; B.J. Mears, his children Courtney Mears and Brandon Mears Torres of Oak Hill, VA; and Howard Mears of Manhattan, NY.

She is also survived by her great-grandchildren: Calvin and Waverly King; Ayden and Luciana Gomez-Clark; Mason Clark; Phoenix Nance; Van and Chloe Smith; Kylee Barker-Stassi; Madison, Raelynn, Sam, and Ben Mears; and Silas DeLucia.

The family would like to thank the following for their compassionate care: Dr. Evans and Dr. Mack of Innovage and the staff at the James River Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you support the Alzheimer’s Association.

A Mass of the Resurrection will be celebrated at 2pm on Monday November 21, 2022 at Saint Joseph’s Catholic Church, in Hampton, followed by burial at

Parklawn Memorial Park. Parklawn-Wood Funeral Home, in Hampton, is assisting the family with arrangements.