On Friday, April 28, 2023 Theresa (Terrie) Marie Smith Cassagnol went to her heavenly father peacefully, surrounded by her family at St. Mary's Hospital, Leonardtown, MD. She was born August 17, 1933 to the late Benedict Smith and Marie Clayton Smith. Theresa attended St. Peter Claver Elementary and Cardinal Gibbons High School in St. Mary's County and continued on to Hampton University of Virginia; completing her Bachelor of Science at St. Mary's College. She met Gerard Cassagnol while attending Hampton University and they later married. Together they had ten children.

Theresa taught at Carver Middle School and at Great Mills High School, where she was known to so many students as 'Ms. C'. She was an advocate for civil and human rights, organizing protests and demonstrations for equal rights for all men and women. Her passion was reading and teaching others about their history, especially black history. She was a parishioner of St. Peter Claver Catholic Church. She loved reading the Word and working with the senior parishioners, recognizing them on birthdays by giving them balloons and many other little gifts. She loved the Lord and you could hear her singing out his praise in her alto voice. She loved her family and was fiercely protective of them.

Theresa received many awards and recognitions for her service to others from organizations throughout St. Mary's County and the State of Maryland, including serving as a member of the Citizens Advisory Board for the Regional Institute for Children and Adolescents; a nominee for Woman of the Year by the St. Mary's County Commission for Women; leading several Rosary Rallies in the Public Square Rosary Crusade; and volunteering for various organizations for the betterment of our society.

Theresa is predeceased by her parents and siblings, Rose Butler, Benedict Smith, Jr., Martin Smith and Florence Smith.

Left to cherish her memories are her sisters, Ann Peterson and Dorothy Smith; her brother, John Gabriel Smith; her daughters, Maria Cassagnol Burton, Brenda Cassagnol Fairbanks and Miriam Elisa Cassagnol; her sons, Andre' Fulton Cassagnol, Antonio Romeo Cassagnol, Gabriel Xavier Cassagnol, Paul Michael Cassagnol, Gerard Robert Cassagnol, Prince Christopher Maurice Cassagnol and Jonathan Marcus Cassagnol, 21 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren, her many nieces, nephews and cousins, her church family and her friends. She will always be loved, and she will always be missed.

Family and friends will gather on Friday, May 5, 2023 for visitation at 10 am; Mass of Christian Burial at 11 am, at St. Peter Claver Catholic Church,16922 Saint Peter Claver Road, St. Inigoes, MD 20684. Interment to follow in the church cemetery.

"For donations to the family, please Zelle them to 915-309-3308. Thank you in advance for your donations. "