Theresa Marie Floyd was born October 5, 1923 in Bastrop, Louisiana as the eldest daughter of Rev. I.L. Barkley, an A.M.E. minister, and Mamie Moore-Barkley, a teacher and school administrator. After high school, T. Marie, as she was affectionately called, remained in Louisiana to attend Southern University in Baton Rouge, where she received her Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education. After graduating, she taught in her hometown for a year before moving to Oakland, California to teach in both Oakland and San Francisco Unified Schools. Her two eldest children: Blenda (deceased) and David were born in Oakland, while her youngest, Tanya (deceased), was born after she moved to Seattle in 1956. She received her Master’s in School Administration from Seattle University.
While living in Seattle, T. Marie met her life-long partner of 55 years, Command Sergeant Major F.L. Floyd (deceased), and together they spent the rest of her lives in love, raising their children and nurturing their grandchildren and great grandchildren. As a second-generation educator, T. Marie believed she could change the world through the power of education. She climbed the ranks in the Seattle Public School district in various roles from teacher, counselor, human relations specialist, and vice principal to principal. She also served as a mentor to principals and an adjunct faculty member at City University.
Active in Seattle’s inner city, T. Marie served as a charter member of Seattle Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., a Board of Directors member of FAME Headstart, and maintained an active presence in Jack and Jill of America, Inc., and the Principal’s Association of Seattle Schools. Over the years, she demonstrated her commitment to her community, cultivating education through activism, education and philanthropy.
T. Marie passed away peacefully on February 7, 2020, surrounded by her loving family.
T. Marie is survived by her son, David Barfield; grandchildren, Tamilyn, Tremane, Keuna, Zerin (MaryRuth), Kahlana (Dwayne) of New York, Isaac (Tiffany), Katrice, Mariah; great grandchildren, Travon, Cherokiz, Devin, Isaac Jr., Dylan, Zerin, Jr.; nieces and nephews, Robert Cook, James Cook (Reba) of Dallas, Texas, Cynthia Cook of Minneapolis, Minnesota, Ruth Faye (Sherman), Christopher Ray of Eupora, Mississippi.
A Memorial Services for T. Marie Floyd will be held at 11:00 a.m. this Fr., Feb. 28 at First African Methodist Episcopal Church – 1522 14th Ave. in Seattle.
