Teina Marie Linthicum, age 66, passed from this life to eternal glory on Friday, February 15, 2019.

She was a woman with great faith and an unshakeable love for God. She delighted in God's Word, and was a tenacious intercessor and an anointed Bible teacher who stood firm on God's word. She was truly "steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord"…and her labor was NOT in vain. (1Cor. 15:58)

Teina entered this life on September 18, 1952 in Canton, Ohio. She was the third daughter born to the union of Charles 'Charlie' Fearne Watkins and Martha Lucille (Gardin) Watkins.

She was a born leader who strove for excellence. She was always tough, always focused, and always determined to be the best that God created her to be.

As a youth, Teina enjoyed skating, cheerleading and bowling. At the age of 13, she was such a good bowler that she bowled on her parents' team in a league intended for adults!

In 1970, Teina graduated from McKinley High School with high honors. Each year that she was in high school, she participated in many extra-curricular activities such as the Library Assistants (and was elected as President), the Booster Club, the French Modern Language Club (and was elected as Secretary), etc.

In her senior year of high school, Teina was inducted into the prestigious National Honor Society. This honor was only awarded to students that were in the top percent of their class and contained outstanding character, scholarship, leadership, and service qualities. Teina was so honored by this achievement that she not only wore her sweater and pin home, but she slept in the sweater as well!

After she graduated from high school, Teina married Jefferson (Jeff) Davis Evans. Their union resulted in Teina's greatest accomplishment of all, the birth -- and raising -- of her only daughter, Sharice "Reesie" Yalon Evans. Teina and 'Reesie' had an unbreakable bond, and "Reesie" was truly the joy of Teina's life.

Having a strong aptitude for math, Teina received certification in Bookkeeping from The Canton Business College, while 'Reesie' was a baby. This resulted in her moving to Akron, Ohio and working in the accounting department for the General Tire Company in Akron.

Realizing her dreams were bigger than the city that she lived, in 1978 Teina and Sharice moved to Silver Spring, Maryland. She worked for TRT Communications as a full-charge bookkeeper, for DC Street Academy as a finance officer, and for Action to Rehabilitate Community Housing (ARCH) as chief financial officer.

Over the years, Teina was a member of Hope Christian Church, Little Temple Church of God, Freedom Church, and Christian Hope Center. At Freedom Church, she met Thomas Linthicum, and they married on June 2, 1990. Teina was also active in Sunday school and the marriage ministry. While at Freedom Church, Teina discovered a new spiritual gift: singing. Freedom's Choir was not just any choir. You really had to know how to sing, or have the ability to be taught how to sing! She had a beautiful, strong soprano voice and loved to sing praises unto God. She also loved singing karaoke with her family in Ohio. She was also a member of the mass choir at Christian Hope Center.

Around 2004, the family relocated to Lynchburg, Virginia. Teina held an administrative financial position at the Academy of Fine Arts. In 2006, Teina and Thomas moved to Greensboro, NC, to be closer to their grandchildren. She quickly found work as a substitute teacher in Asheboro City Schools, often working with exceptional children. Teina loved working with the special needs children, and those children loved her, too.

Teina also worked as an accountant at the O'Henry Hotel and as a program manager at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University in the Department of Computer Science. Most recently, Teina worked part-time at the College Prep and Leadership Academy until her health began to decline.

Teina founded "Everlasting to Everlasting," a ministry of devotionals and spiritual letters that she wrote when she was inspired by the Lord. Teina not only had a green thumb, she had "green hands and feet!" She brought life to any plant that she encountered...and her many, many plants brought life to her. In her later years she established a business called Promises Houseplant Care Services. Teina took great pleasure in painstakingly updating her photo albums yearly, and sorting them by person, family, or event!

And, she danced unto the Lord like nobody was watching.

Teina was preceded in death by her parents, Charlie and Martha Lucille Watkins. Teina leaves to cherish her memory her husband, Thomas; one daughter, Sharice Adams; one stepdaughter, LeChaun Linthicum; two granddaughters: Veronica and Victoria Adams; one grandson, Ayden Linthicum; two goddaughters: Chrisonne Hollis-Henderson and Christina Hollis; two grand/goddaughters: Jasmine and Tyler Evans; one brother, Alva Watkins (of Canton); sisters: Patricia Smith, Veronica Swint, Marcia Watkins, Myra Watkins, and Erica Watkins, all of Canton, OH; Nancy (Martin) Tyer of Atlanta, GA and Laverne (Paul) Mattox of Columbus,OH and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts, uncles, and friends.

A service honoring her life will be held on Saturday, March 2, 2019 at A People of God Church; 5700 Riverdale Drive in Jamestown, NC 27282. The service will begin at 1 pm.