Tersa Harris, 71 of Lexington Park, MD, departed this life on May 30, 2013 at Washington Hospital Center, Washington, DC. She was born in Prince Frederick, MD on September 15, 1941 to the late Lincoln Stepney and the late Rebecca Stepney. She was one of ten children.

Tersa spent her life taking care of her family and children. Tersa had a love for cooking and not only did it bring her family closer together, it also helped her support her family. In her early years, Tersa was a farmer, raising tobacco and tending to her garden and animals. During her mid-years, Tersa got a new child named Nicholas, that she truly loved. Nicholas was her Amazon Parrot. She spent her final years of her life enjoying her family and friends. One thing she enjoyed the most was fishing and listening to gospel and old R&B music.

She is preceded in death by her parents, two brothers, Arthur and George; her son, Monroe and her grandson, Mario Reed.

Tersa leaves to cherish her memories her five children, Velma Harris (James Shorter), Denise Hebb (John Hebb), Thomas Harris (Sherry Gill), Jacqueline Harris (Leon Courtney) and Sherwood Harris (Marcia Harris); twelve grandchildren, James Edwin Shorter, Lydian Desiree Nelson, Audra Shorter, Faturia Shorter, Troy Hebb, John (AJ) Hebb, Latheresa Harris, Latia Taylor, Thomas Harris, Josephine Courtney, George Brooks, and Rockesha Harris; twenty-three great grandchildren, three brothers, Lincoln (Dennis) Stepney, Preston Stepney and Sherman Stepney; four sisters, Jeraline Stepney, Gracie Brown, Francie Stepney and Hazel Dennis. She also leaves a host of cousins, nieces and nephews.

A Memorial Service will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 8, 2013 at Bay District Volunteer Fire Department, 46900 S Shangri-La Dr., Lexington Park, MD 20653.

Donations to help with services may be mailed to: 261 Brooks Dr., Colonial Beach, VA 22443.

Any deliveries for the service can be accepted starting at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 8, 2013 at the Fire Department.

Arrangements provided by Briscoe-Tonic Funeral Home, P.A.