Sheila D. Terrell

Herstory Sheila Dianne Terrell affectionately known as “Coo Coo”, was born December 6, 1968, at the Columbia Hospital for Women in Washington, D.C. to the late Ernest Terrell and Anna Ruth McGill. She was the 6th child born to her parents. Her early years were in Washington, D.C. and then the family moved to Prince George’s County, Maryland. Sheila was educated in Washington, D.C. and Prince George’s County, Maryland public schools. She was dedicated to caring for others, so she sought to become a Certified Nursing Assistant in the early 1990’s. She worked in several nursing homes in Washington, D.C. and Maryland to include Grant Park and Forestville Rehabilitation Center. Sheila often purchased personal products for her patients to show them how much she really cared. Coo Coo also worked as an Administrative Assistant at Positive Nature Inc., a nonprofit organization geared toward serving underserved children and families in the District of Columbia. Most recently in her career she worked at Kay Cee Long Term Care Pharmacy as a pharmacy technician. Her entire professional career revolved around caring, serving, and supporting others in need. Her work ethics were so strong that even during her recent hospitalization, she would frequently say, “I can’t wait to get better and go back to work.” She was so committed that she worked to renew her pharmacy technician license while hospitalized. “The Resilient One” Coo Coo will be remembered for her love of family, music and food. Some of her best memories were spent laughing and singing her favorite songs. She sung in her room with her disco ball and flower painted walls, in the car, or during family gatherings. Every family function, there was always a joke about turning the event into a “Paaarrrrrty” and yep, she danced and sang with her family. She also loved to laugh. She was always looking for the joke in a conversation that would make her laugh out loud with her familiar scream of joy. Her two sons were very important to her, and she did everything she could for her boys. After her boys were her grandchildren, Jordan and Isaiah Williams. She was so excited and invested when she became a grandma to a baby girl and later a loving grandson. She would have given them the world if she could. “The Resilient One” If you knew her as Sheila or “Coo Coo”, you knew that she was resilient, grateful, strong, passionate, sensitive, candid, loving, humorous, protective, and often misunderstood. Her candid, strong, and protective nature with her use of choice words would make some think she was a tough cookie. However, for those who really knew her, knew she was a marshmallow, a pudding pie, and soft as cotton. She was very transparent about her feelings and thoughts, and she would be hurt and sad if she thought her sisters or others were mad at her. “The Resilient One” Her greatest advice and rule to everyone was, “Don’t tell nobody when you get paid, don’t tell ‘em how much you get paid, and don’t tell ‘em your days off.” Sheila was diagnosed with Lupus in 1998 and remained a warrior with every battle. Her strength during the last 25 years epitomizes the strength of one who believes and trust in God. Sheila would always talk about how grateful she was that God still loves her. She would often say, “I would have never made it without the Lord, and that’s it, that’s all.” She accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior. Often during family prayer or during one of her out of the blue phone calls, she would break out in her favorite songs, “Goin’ Up Yonder” and “Be Grateful”. The Resilient One” The legacy of her life will live through her children and grandchildren and told by her family and friends. Preceding her in death, her father, Ernest Terrell, her mother, Anna Ruth McGill, her sister, Beverly Terrell, her brother, Paul Terrell, and her 1st nephew, Anwar Wilson. She leaves to cherish her memory her children: John and Jamar Williams; two grandchildren, Jordan and Isaiah Williams; a maternal aunt: Sharon Bell; sisters and brother: Ronda Terrell-Carroll (Paul), Ernest Terrell, Renee Terrell, and Tammy Bailey (Brian); nieces and nephews: Bianca Wilson, Marlana Kelly, Sha-Shawna Moody, Tami Anderson, Felicia Terrell (Siobhan), Moriah Moody, Brian Booker Jr. (Tatiana), DeAnn Lawrence, Symphony Terrell, and Dymetrias Terrell; great nieces and nephews: Nivea Richburg, James Richburg III, Amari Davy-Wilson, Myira Anderson, and Anwar Wilson Jr.; great great nieces and nephews: Nye-Emah Moody, Ijahman Moody, Akhmed-Isaias Moody, Amora Moody, Wyatt Moody, Brian Booker III, Saint Truesdale, and Zuri Booker; cousins: Jannie and Sharon Sidney; her very special cousin: Ronnie Terrell, and a host of other family and friends.

Tributes

Sheila D. Terrell

December 6, 1968 - January 23, 2024