Teresa Lynn "Terri" Mehling Suwwan

Teresa Lynn “Terri” Mehling Suwwan, 62, passed away peacefully at her home in Burlington, NC surrounded by her family on Saturday, March 29, 2025. She was born in Asheville, NC to Gary Paul Mehling and Dorothy Tolley Mehling. She was a 1980 graduate of Charles D. Owen High School in Swannanoa, NC, a 1982 graduate of Montreat-Anderson College in Montreat, NC, and a 1985 graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill.

Terri is described by many as the kindest person they ever knew. When she saw someone in need, she quietly fulfilled that need without needing recognition from others. When you were going through a difficult time or just having a hard day, you might have received a surprise from her just to brighten up your day. If she saw something that reminded her of someone else, she would buy it for them just to let them know she was thinking about them. Wherever she went, she would bring homemade cake and share it with all the people.

Terri is often regarded as being open, trustworthy, and compassionate. So many people felt safe confiding in her, even those who did not know her well. She loved all the holidays, both big and small, and she made every celebration magical for her daughter Jenna, who she loved “to the moon and back,  Roundtrip”. When Terri’s health began to decline, she told very few people because she did not want to be thought of as “sick” by others. She wanted to keep living every day she had left to the fullest.

Terri was a former owner of a Subway franchise and was more recently employed as an office manager for Subway. She was of the Christian faith. She loved reading, singing, baking, fashion, decorating, traveling, especially to the beach and the mountains, and she loved animals, especially dogs.

Terri is survived by her daughter, Jenna Suwwan; her sisters, Cindy “Boshee” Mehling, Kim Norton (Greg) and Jennifer Twitty (Charles); her Mama, Dorothy Mehling; her aunt, Sheila Blair (Gary); several nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews, cousins, and Cindy’s dog, Rocco Pico, Terri’s beloved canine companion.

A service to celebrate her life will be held on Saturday, April 26, 2025, at 11:00 AM at Lowe Funeral Home Chapel. The family will receive friends following the service and at the home of Jenna Suwwan.

Memorials may be made to the Gallbladder Cancer Foundation and to the Guilford County Animal Shelter.