Theresa Veronica Bass

Theresa Veronica Bass
Wife, Mother, Grandmother, Sister, Aunt, Sister-in-Law, Friend, Travel Buddy, Phenomenal Woman - these are just a few of the many words used to describe Theresa Veronica Bass.

Theresa, born in St. James, Trinidad and Tobago, on October 4, 1943, was the second of six children born to Doris and Augustine Graham. She was raised and grew up in Gran Bras, St. Andrew, Grenada, and attended St. Joseph’s Convent in both Grenville and St. George. She took pride in always finishing first in her class. After graduation, she taught secondary school students at St. Joseph’s Convent, Grenville, before immigrating to the United States in 1964. She attended Howard University and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology with Honors in 1971.

Her first marriage to Albert Douglas produced three daughters: Catherine, Emma-Jeanne, and Kimberly. In 1981, she married Lewis Bass III, and they lived a happy and wonderful life filled with love, laughter, and travel. From this union, she had her fourth child, Lewis IV.

Her first job in the United States was with Children’s Hospital, where she served as a Personnel Specialist in 1965 and rose to the position of Personnel Director. Subsequently, she worked at Provident Hospital in Baltimore, Washington Hospital Center, and DC General Hospital in Washington, DC, as the Director of Human Resources. She retired from Nursing Enterprises Inc. in 2004 as the Director of Human Resources. During her career, she was a member of the Soroptimist Club and a member and former president of the National Capital Hospital Personnel Directors Association.

Throughout her life in the United States, Theresa was actively involved in the Grenadian community. She was a member of the Grenadian Cultural and Social Association and served as president for one year.

Her hobbies included reading, playing Scrabble (she was a fierce competitor who loved beating everyone), and, most of all, traveling. After her retirement, she took many trips with her travel buddy Frances St. John and after Lew retired they cruised to places all over the world. Her goal was to visit all 50 states and all the continents and she was proud to say she visited 40 states and all 7 continents!

Her pride and joy were her three grandchildren: Micah, Kendall, and Morgan. She was the biggest cheerleader at all their academic and extracurricular activities. To  reward their academic achievements, she introduced them to the world of travel - taking them on two "Good Grades" cruises.

Her motto was, "It is not the quantity of your life, but the quality that matters." She truly lived and enjoyed life.

She is preceded in death by her father and mother, Augustine and Doris Graham; her brother, James Graham; her nephew, Gregory Graham; and her niece, Sherdeen Graham. Left to mourn her loss are her husband, Lewis Bass III; her children, Catherine Douglas, Emma-Jeanne Wood, Kimberly Douglas, and Lewis Bass IV; her grandchildren, Micah Wood, Kendall Douglas, and Morgan Wood; her siblings, John Graham, Bernice Graham, Joan Jeremiah (Anslem), and Alan Graham (Judy); her sisters-in-law, Andrea Bass, Ann Douglas, and Norma Walker; and brother-in-law, Alfred Douglas; her nieces and nephews, Jason Graham, Timothy Graham, Tamica Slater, Brent Jeremiah, Melissa Jeremiah, Kimberly Graham, Leon Daniel and Devon Daniel; devoted caregiver, Shawnae Harper; and a host of cousins, loved ones and friends.