WILMINGTON — Teresa Louise McCollum (T Elle), 34 of Wilmington, NC (formerly of Charlotte, NC and Montrose, PA) passed away unexpectedly, yet peacefully at her home on February 16, 2024.
Born May 16, 1989 in Tunkhannock, PA, Teresa brought a light, warmth, infectious laugh, smile and deep love to all who had the honor of knowing her.
She was predeceased by her grandparents, Hugh D. and Shirley A. McCollum, Steven F. and Louise E. Zapolski, Step-mother Ginger McCollum, her name-sake Teresa Hibbard, as well as several dear aunts, uncles and cousins.
She is survived by her parents, James B McCollum and Sandy D Schwenk (Donnie Brown), brother Cody J.H. McCollum, her beloved cat, Midnight, her persons; Tyler Blackman, Amanda Legenhausen, Brianna Gieski, Ashley Franklin, and countless loved family and close friends.
From a young age, Teresa had a strong desire to become a lawyer. She believed she could, so she did. She was a Montrose Area High School graduate in 2007. She graduated Cum Laude from Drexel University in 2011 with a BS in Criminal Justice, then subsequently graduated from Charlotte School of Law Cum Laude with her Juris Doctorate in 2014. After no small feat of passing the bar exam, she went on to practice law in both Charlotte and Wilmington, NC.
Teresa found passion in all she did, from her vegan lifestyle and desire for sustainability, to her fascination with birds, her love of the beach and the moon, and her deep appreciation for a greater purpose she felt so drawn to. Above all, she loved her friends and family with an intensity that was unmatched. If you knew Teresa, you knew exactly where you lived in her heart and she had no reservations of reminding you just how special you were to her.
The loss of her light in this world will be felt deeply by all, but those close to her know she has simply orchestrated a way to be with us even more. Her warmth can be felt on any plane of this existence, and we are comforted in celebrating the little signs she shows us daily that she is all around us.
A celebration of life with be held once arrangements can be made. It will be announced later. All are encouraged to attend and bring your memories and stories to share. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating in her memory to a cause of your choice.
“Here is the deepest secret nobody knows (here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud and the sky of the sky of a tree called life; which grows higher than soul can hope or mind can hide) and this is the wonder that’s keeping the stars apart. I carry your heart (I carry it in my heart).”
