Theresa Anne “Terry” Wheatley-Edwards, 70, passed away on September 19, 2026, at the Mackey & Pam Stansell House of Coastal Hospice, surrounded by her loving family.

Born October 14, 1955, in Cambridge, Maryland, Terry was the daughter of the late William “Bill” and Christine McGlaughlin. She graduated from Cambridge High School in 1973, Lees-McRae College in North Carolina in 1975 and Salisbury State College in Maryland in 1977 with a Bachelor’s in Social Work.

Terry dedicated her life to making a difference in the lives of others, particularly children and families who needed someone willing to stand beside and advocate for them.

She worked at Maple Shade in Mardela Springs briefly and had a long-standing career with the Maryland Department of Social Services for 32 years. Her career included service with St. Mary’s County DSS beginning in 1981, Worcester County DSS beginning in 1983, and Wicomico County DSS from 1991 to 1998 before returning to Worcester County. Terry retired from Worcester County DSS on December 31, 2013; or at least that was the official plan. Retirement apparently did not suit Terry particularly well. She returned almost immediately as a contractual Parent Support Worker and continued serving families there until 2022.

In 2022, Terry joined Life Crisis Center, where she spent the final four years of her career helping expand the Lower Shore CASA program. Her extensive child welfare experience, knowledge of the community, and passion for protecting children made her an important part of the program’s growth throughout Maryland’s Lower Eastern Shore.

Over the course of her career and community service, Terry received numerous awards and recognition. Among these honors, she was named Outstanding Caseworker by the State Council on Child Abuse and Neglect and received the Heroes of Child Protection Lifetime Achievement Award for Worcester County. She was also recognized with a commendation from the Worcester County Commissioners, the Fighting Crime Together Award in recognition of her seven years of service with the Worcester County Bureau of Investigation, and a Customer Service Award from the Maryland Department of Human Resources. These honors reflected the compassion, commitment, and lasting impact Terry brought to her work throughout her career.

Terry’s commitment to her community extended far beyond her professional career. She was involved with the OC-Berlin Opti-Ms Club where she served 12 years as President, the Worcester County Commission for Women, the Noel Community, St. Stephen’s Church, where she had served as a youth leader, and the Resource Committee for the Worcester County Child Advocacy Center.

Outside of work and community service, Terry loved the beach, boating, shopping, spending time with her friends, and her beloved pets. She enjoyed life, loved her people fiercely, and had a way of making friends feel like family.

Terry shared 38 years of marriage with her handsome husband, Harry Edwards. Together, they built a life filled with family, friendship, memories, and love.

Terry is survived by her handsome husband, Harry Edwards; her stepson, Barnaby “Barney” Edwards; her sister, Yvonne Veach; brother Leonard “Hank” Wheatley; brother Michael Wheatley (Janet); her nieces, Krista Love, Terry Hubbard (Bryan), and Sara Wheatley (Tyler); her nephews, Samual Yockey (Jane), Kevin Yockey, and David Yockey (Katie); and many others whom Terry protected, guided, supported, and loved as her own.

She was preceded in death by her parents and her brother, Richard “Ricky” Wheatley.

Terry faced a short but difficult battle with metastatic melanoma. While cancer became a part of the final months of her life, it does not define the life she lived.

Terry wanted to be remembered for making an impact on the lives of others for the better. She believed that “our work is never really done.” Her legacy lives on through the countless children and families she served, the communities she strengthened, and the many people fortunate enough to call her family, coworker, mentor, or friend.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 1:00 PM on Friday, September 25, 2026, at St. Stephen’s Church, 101 E. State Street, Delmar, Delaware. Pastor Paul James will officiate the service. Prior to the service, family and friends will have the opportunity to visit together from 12:30 PM to 1:00 PM at the church. In a reflection of Terry’s vibrant personality, all who attend are encouraged to wear colorful attire in her honor. We invite all who knew and loved Terry to join us in celebrating her remarkable life and the legacy she leaves behind. Funeral arrangements are being handled by Short Funeral Home in Delmar.

Following the funeral service, please join us at the Groove Banquet Hall as we gather to continue celebrating Terry’s life and sharing memories together. The Groove Banquet Hall is located at 30503 East Line Road, Delmar, MD 21875. If you wish to bring a dish to share, you are welcome to drop it off at the banquet hall beginning at 11:00 AM.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Terry’s honor to Life Crisis Center (PO Box 387, Salisbury, MD 21803) or OC-Berlin Opti-Ms Club (PO Box 4784 Ocean City, MD 21842).

Terry spent a lifetime caring for others, advocating for those who needed a voice, and leaving people and places better than she found them. Her work may never really be done, but because Terry was here, the work will continue.