Dr. Teresa Ernestine Scotton Williams was born on January 7, 1946 to the late Reverend Harry Franklin Scotton and Lina Bernice Rivers Scotton in Philadelphia, PA. After the family moved back to High Point, NC, Teresa matriculated in the High Point Public Schools. She was a stellar student throughout elementary and high school, attending Fairview Elementary School and William Penn High School. In high school, among her many achievements, she was president of the Student Council, graduating valedictorian in 1964. She won a four-year full scholarship to Howard University. She graduated cum laude from Howard in 1968, with a degree in microbiology. She went on to earn her master’s degree in psychology from the University of Wisconsin, and her Ph.D. in statistics from the University of Iowa.

Dr. Williams taught statistics and measurement for more than 30 years at Howard University and Oral Roberts University.

Aside from her academic accomplishments, Dr. Williams had many talents. Noting her early singing abilities, her father established a singing group of his children, with her as the lead singer, and her brothers Ted and Harry Coylee, as the backup singers. Her Dad, who had formed the group as a way to introduce them to singing in the manner of himself and his own brothers and sisters as members of the Church of God of Prophecy, where many family were members. Teresa’s signature song was “Crying in the Chapel,” which became the requested song in the days that the group sang during their father’s ministry. Later, their father established a younger group with Teresa, Gwen, Rebecca, Gail and Richard (Ricky). During that time, Teresa and Gwen’s requested song was “He’ll Wash you Whiter than Snow,” that their father had taught them, and which they sang in church conventions and in local churches that their father pastored.

Teresa was also a gifted artist, and engaged her younger sisters in drawing entire hospitals, patients, nurses and doctors and all, marching them out of the pages of books, their hospital stations and rooms, one by one during their pretend fire drills. She was an avid reader; her favorite books were romantic novels of every genre, from historical novels to fictions about modern-day protagonists of today’s world.

In 1979, Teresa met the love of her life, Newman Williams of  Sioux City, Iowa. They married in 1980. The two of them loved to recount how they were destined to meet on the campus of the University of Iowa. To this union, were born their oldest son, Khary, and twins, Jamila and Zahra. Teresa dearly loved her children and grandchildren and she could often be heard extolling their virtues, talents and academic prowess. She also loved her students to an infinite degree. Her students considered her as more than a teacher, but a spiritual guide, counselor, and surrogate mother. Many called her their “favorite teacher;” she would often stay after school with them or meet them on campus on Saturdays and Sundays to give them extra help with their statistics homework.

Teresa departed this life on April 5, 2020 after an extended illness. She was preceded in death by her mother and father, and brothers, Ted and Harry Coy Lee.

Teresa leaves behind her loving husband, Newman, her son, Khary, her daughters, Jamila and Zahra, grandchildren, Devin, Emrie, Brooklyn and Kaydy; her siblings, Dr. Jacquelyn Joyner (Dr. William) two brothers, Charles E. Scotton and Attorney Richard F. Scotton (Andrea); Dr. Gwendolyn S. Bethea (Ronald); Rebecca (Reverend Steven); and Attorney Gail S. Scotton (Orlando), a host of nephews, nieces, relatives, and special relatives, Rosa Ross Scotton, and Frances Hicks Scotton.

We will always remember the tender voice, encouraging words, and angelic spirit of our sweet Teresa. Until we meet again, rest well in the arms of the Savior.

Send to someone

Share this obituary with others

https://everloved.com/life-of/teresa-williams/obituary/

Copy