Having embraced a life style that was based specifically on moral teachings, virtues of truthfulness, compassion, and respect, Matriarch Thersia Ardel Barfield maintained a steadfast commitment to spread the good news of Jesus and His love, and to also empower each generation of her family with the fundamental knowledge of spiritual clarity, education, religion, and Christianity.

Thersia’s extraordinary life began with her birth on the twenty-fourth day of February in the year nineteen, twenty-seven. Her parents John and Carrie Hammons were excited to welcome the baby girl into their lives with some trepidation because of the insurmountable social and economic problems that existed. Providing a decent home that was affordable and conducive for the growing needs of the family was challenging.

Attending the historic Booker T. Washington High School, Thresia was a graduate of the Class of 1944, where she excelled academically. Although she was quite capable of completing a college degree, a lack of financial resources prevented her from pursuing additional education opportunities.

Soon after graduating from high school, Thersia got married to the late Thomas Henry Barfield, Sr., and proudly became the mother of four sons and one daughter: Thomas, James, John, Terrance, and Carrie. Determined to ensure that the care and safety of her children was a top priority, the family moved into the LeMoyne Gardens Housing projects, an income-based development funded by the government located across the street from LeMoyne College and Metropolitan Baptist Church. Both of these organizations would later play a pivotal role in the life of her family.

Although Thersia had accepted Christ at Mt. Olive Cathedral as a teen-ager, she recognized a need to find another church in close proximity to where she lived. Joining the fellowship at Centenary United Methodist Church, the children visited occasionally and attended worship services with their mother. Years later, Thersia became a member of Grace United Methodist Church under the pastoral leadership of Rev. Dr. Alvin McCain. James and Thomas also joined the church to worship with their mother. However, Carrie, John, and Terrance joined the fellowship at Metropolitan Baptist Church under the pastoral leadership of Rev. Dr. Fred C. Lofton, who ordained both John and Terrance as Deacons.

Thersia was extremely proud of her children and wanted each of them to succeed and have an opportunity to become productive citizens with the options of getting a job, going into the military or enrolling in college. Thomas was drafted and served in the military during the Viet Nam War. Her four other children: James, John, Terrance, and Carrie graduated with degrees from LeMoyne-Owen, one of the countries’ oldest Historical Black Colleges and Universities.

Each of the college graduates was also members of a Divine Nine Greek fraternity and Sorority. More importantly, each of her five children was gainfully employed with professional careers in the city government, federal government, the public schools, as well as being small business owners. Her children were gifted with extraordinary talent and skills that they used to glorify God and to serve the needs of humanity in their respective churches and in the community.

Impromptu and planned family visits were always memorable and provided an opportunity to gather around the Matriarch to enjoy a delicious meal that more than likely included a slice of her freshly baked caramel cake, and to engage in meaningful and insightful conversations over current events and things going on in the life of her family members and friends.

Occasionally, her children and grandchildren would take their own children to visit grandmother Thersia, which at times might result in four to five generations of family members being at her home. Always sharing positive words of encouragement and expressing love to each of them was quite an awesome learning and teaching experience for both the Matriarch and her descendants.

Approaching her ninety-sixth birthday, Matriarch Thersia began to feel somewhat anxious. She expressed a desire to leave her earthly home and to go home. Hearing that, the family began exploring options for her safety and medical care. As a result of recommendations made by attending health professionals at Methodist South Hospital, a decision was made to move the Matriarch to The Waters at Memphis Care and Rehabilitation Center in February, 2023, where her health care needs and safety would not be compromised.

Shortly after her move to the facility, on February 24, 2023, five generations of family members and friends gathered excitedly to celebrate Matriarch Thersia’s ninety-sixth birthday! The room was decorated with festive balloons, a birthday banner and streamers. The birthday lady was presented with fresh cut flowers and roses, and of course there was a delicious cake. More importantly, she was given flowers while she could smell them, and to enjoy the celebration of her life surrounded by love. They all sang the birthday song to the Matriarch, as fate would have it, sadly for the very last time.

On March 14, 2023, Thersia Ardel Barfield heard the voice of Jesus calling her home.

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race; I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.” 2 Timothy 4:7-8

Sadly, three of her five children: Thomas, James, and Carrie predeceased her in death. The unimaginable back-to-back loss of her children was truly heartbreaking. Although these three adult children are deceased, they were also the parents of at least some of Matriarch Thersia’s grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great grandchildren.

The extraordinary Thersia Ardel Barfield does not wish for anyone to mourn her earthly transition, but to know that God blessed her to have eternal life in heaven. She lived 96 years with the strength to endure 26 additional years over the promised 3 scores and 10!

“Our days may come to seventy years, or eighty, if our strength endures; yet the best of them are but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away.” Psalm 90:10-12

Within her life time, the Matriarch was able to welcome into her family five generations of kin folks including 5 children, 17 grandchildren, 13 great- grandchildren and 3 great-great grandchildren!

The Charge to Keep the Legacy Alive Now that the family’s Matriarch Thersia Ardel Barfield has transitioned to her heavenly home, there remains an awesome responsibility to ensure her legacy is kept alive throughout each subsequent generation. One member of each of her 5 children households is, thereby charged with this responsibility: Delven (Son of James); Angela (Daughter of Thomas); Teresa (Daughter of Carrie); John (Spouse, Jeannette) and Terrance (Spouse, June).

Each generation has a charge to keep the legacy alive and an eternal God to glorify and to serve. It is each designated member’s daily responsibilities to keep this charge. God will give you the strength to endure and will bless your households each and every day. Keep your families together, attend church, pray, and keep the faith. Help each other to achieve his or her goals, and encourage them to get up when they fall down. If there is a need, help financially when you can. You are commanded to love God and your neighbors as yourself.

The family will receive friends Thursday, March 23, 2023 from 4:00pm-6:00pm at RS Lewis & Sons 2944 Walnut Grove Road, Memphis, TN 38111. Funeral service will be Friday, March 24, 2023 11:00am at Grace United Methodist Church 1619 E Raines Road, Memphis, TN 38116

Internment will be in the Historic Elmwood Cemetery 824 S Dudley St, Memphis, TN 38104