Theresa Martin was born May 1, 1923 in Waxahachie, Texas to the parentage of the late Gip and Viola Mims. She was the fifth of six children, all of whom preceded her in death. She received her formal education in the public schools of Waxahachie, where she graduated from Oak Lawn High School. In 1957, Theresa united in holy matrimony to the late Edgar Allen Martin. To this union, one child was born, Edgar Allen Martin, Jr. Through Christian faith, she united with the Golden Gate Missionary Baptist Church under the leadership of Rev. CBT Smith, and served as an usher for more than forty years, as well as worked with the missionary society.