Teresa Flood

Teresa H. Flood went to sing in our Lord's Heavenly Choir on Saturday, August 9, 2025, in Chattanooga, Tennessee, at the age of 76, surrounded by her loving family.

Born in Knoxville, Tennessee, in 1949, Teresa moved with her family to Cleveland, Tennessee. At a young age, Teresa accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior, dedicating her life to living with Christian values. She was a cheerleader and a proud member of the first graduating class of Cleveland High School in 1967. That same year, she met the love of her life, John "Mike" Flood, at Tennessee Tech, beginning a love story that spanned 55 years, 7 months, and 13 days of marriage.

Teresa and Mike were married in 1969 and soon moved to Fort Knox, Kentucky, before Mike's deployment to Vietnam in 1971. During that time, Teresa returned to Cleveland to live with her parents, Homer F. Holdredge, Jr., and Nina Gaynelle (Jones) Holdredge, who preceded her in death. After Mike was released from active duty in 1972, they returned to Cleveland to begin their life together. Teresa completed her bachelor's degree from Tennessee Tech in 1973, and in 1976, they welcomed their son, Henry.

Mike's return to active duty took the family to Bamberg, Germany, where Teresa embraced the opportunity to travel extensively throughout Europe. She delighted in exploring both historic and modern sites, with a special fondness for visiting porcelain factories. Upon returning to the United States, their daughter, Heather, was born. Another active duty assignment led them to Cookeville, Tennessee, where Mike taught Military Science at Tennessee Tech.

Music was one of Teresa's lifelong passions. She played the flute throughout high school and sang in the choir at every church she attended-including more than 40 years in the choir at Wesley Memorial Church. She also played in the handbell choir with Mike and Henry, and served as the librarian for the music department.

Throughout their life together, Teresa and Mike shared many interests. They were avid golfers, playing in all fifty states-including Hawaii and Alaska-as well as in the Bahamas, the Caribbean, Mexico, and Scotland. They were also competitive bridge players, partnering together at ABCL bridge tournaments in fourteen states. Their time in Europe sparked a love for British sports cars, and Teresa proudly owned a 1960 Sunbeam Alpine and a 1979 MGB, which they drove to British car shows in seven southern states.

Teresa loved to travel, whether exploring new corners of the United States or returning to favorite destinations in Europe. She and Mike enjoyed numerous ocean cruises in the Caribbean and Mediterranean, as well as river cruises reaching as far east as Budapest. One of her final joys was planning excursions for a 15-day cruise around the British Isles.

A devoted member of Wesley Memorial Church, Teresa also served her church and community faithfully-assisting with the food pantry, serving on the worship committee to help plan communion, and volunteering anywhere she was needed. She gave of herself to her community and her family with little hesitation, always willing to help and encourage others. She was also a guiding light for her son, Henry, in his business, Epikos. She was there every Monday, making sure everything was running smoothly and always helping out. Above all her many passions, Teresa was most devoted to her family. She loved them deeply, celebrated every milestone, and never missed an opportunity to share her pride and affection.

She is survived by her husband, Mike; her son, Henry, and his wife, Rita, along with their children, Minnie Brock and Amelia Flood; her daughter, Heather, and her husband, Jarrod, of Murfreesboro, Tennessee; and her brother, Howard Holdredge, of LaFollette, Tennessee. She is also survived by several nieces and nephews, as well as a large and close extended family, including cousins who gather twice each year.

Teresa lived life to the fullest-with faith, grace, music, adventure, and a joyful spirit. She leaves behind a legacy of love and service that will continue to inspire all who knew her.

The family will receive friends on Sunday, August 17, 2025 from 2:00 PM until 5:00 PM in the Founders Hall at Wesley Memorial Church. A service celebrating her life will take place at 5:00 PM in the church sanctuary.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Missions Fund of Wesley Memorial Church, the National Kidney Foundation, or the Eye Bank Association of America.

You are encouraged to share a memory of Teresa and/or your personal condolences with her family by visiting her memorial webpage and guestbook at www.companionfunerals.com. Companion Funeral Home and the Cody family are honored to assist her family with these arrangements.