Teressia Ward-Zack

We mourn the loss of Teressia Ward-Zack passing on February 12, 2023. To her closest friends, she was “T”. In life, she was the person whom everyone knew, and everyone loved. If you were blessed enough to be in her life, you would learn about her selflessness and desire to help people. She had a rambunctious spirit which pushed her beyond her limits as evidenced by her talents and accomplishments. Born March 15, 1968, to Joe and (Velma) Christine Ward, Teressia was the apple of her daddy’s eye. Although he died when Teressia was only 12, he would have been especially proud of his little girl. Teressia was the first person in her family to graduate college at MTSU, majoring in radio and television production. Her step-father, Jake “Pop” Trent, financed her way. While at MTSU, she met her core of best friends when she wrote, produced, and directed for the sketch show, “Void Where Prohibited”, with her future husband, Scott Zack. Although it would take another ten years for them to realize how much they cared for each other, they, along with Wesley Bowling and David Hames could often be seen in each other’s company. After graduating in 1992, Teressia worked as a DJ for several years, including WJBZ, Praise 96.3 in Knoxville. She was twice nominated as DJ of the year at the Southern Gospel National Quartet Convention. She and Scott married in 2001, about the time her health issues were beginning. Her back was her biggest battle. She always told her friends that she knew she would be in a wheelchair before fifty. Teressia persevered and through her joy of photography, began ZackShack Photography and Videography with her husband. The couple shot dozens of weddings over ten years in business, before her back and the economy failed them. In 2010, she lost our friend David in the Haiti earthquake. However, as sad as she was, Teressia assisted search and rescue groups find survivors and deliver fuel around the Hotel Montana through Facebook and online chats. She would spend hours, through lack of sleep, until people were discovered. The past few years would not kind to Teressia. She faced several health setbacks before running an extremely high fever which left her in a coma for three weeks. While recovering, her spirit would not diminish. She and Scott would spend time reminiscing about friends, pets (at one time they numbered twenty cats and six dogs) and vacations. She once walked on lava beds in Hawai’i, a proud accomplishment considering she was in such pain from her back. Her last year was spent, immobile, trying to rehab to come home. God sought to bring her home before she could. She was indelibly met at the Pearly Gates by a crowd of folks that had gone before her, including her grandparents, dad, mom, “Pop”, her special cousin, Bobby Ward, her Aunt Imogene, Father-in-Law Hutch, her unborn baby, and very special friend David. They all welcomed her with open armband ushered her kind soul into Heaven. Teressia is survived by her husband, Scott, who was her best friend. Also survived by Parents-in- Law, Jane and Steve Marsh, brothers Cory Hutcheson and family (Kate, Jack and Poppy) and Sergeant Graham Hutcheson, step-brother, Alex Marsh, step-sister Bailey Shouse and family (Derek, Annabella and AJ), special friends Wesley Bowling, Taylor and Lisa Bills, Kristy and Keith Brewer, Faith and Tony Polk and too many people across the state to mention. They all had special places in her heart. She will be missed. A celebration of life will be held at a later date. No flowers please. If you wish to make a donation in her name, please give to your local animal rescue.