Theresa Merritt (Hines) (1922-1998) Section K-242

  Theresa Merritt Hines was an actress, singer and wife and mother. She lived in Hollis, Queens.

She was born in Emporia, Virginia and moved to Philadelphia and was raised by her aunt when her mom passed away.  As she grew older, her ambition was to be an opera singer. She won a scholarship and studied at the Settlement School of Music, Temple University, New York University and Julliard School of Music.

 As a teenager, she sang in church and community choirs. Theresa appeared on a radio program aimed at African American audiences called “Parisian Tailor’s Colored Kiddie Hour.”

 When she was 21 years old, she was personally chosen by impresario Billy Rose to join the cast of “Carmen Jones”, a 1943 Broadway musical. Theresa was cast as Frascetta and made the role her own. She also appeared in many Broadway shows, including The Wiz and Golden Boy with Sammy Davis Jr. She also toured as backup singer for many years with Harry Belafonte and performed with Jackie Wilson. She sang at Carnegie Hall in 1985 and was part of the Kool Jazz Festival.

Theresa appeared in many movies, “The Goodbye Girl”, “The Great Santini”, “All That Jazz.” (the first one in 1979),” “The Serpent and  the Rainbow” and “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas” with Dolly Parton.

 Theresa was probably best known for her role in the ABC sitcom, 

“That’s My Mama”, set in a Washington barbershop with Clifton Davis cast as her son.

 In 1984, on Broadway, she originated the title role of the domineering manipulative blues singer in August Wilson’s “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” and she earned a Tony nomination for that role. Theresa had a 6-year battle with skin cancer and passed on in 1998 at the age of 75.

 Cecily Tyson offered a special prayer at her funeral service, surrounded by her loved ones and associates.

 “After all those curtain calls, I turn right back into a pumpkin. You have to take things that happen to you in show business and put them in perspective. I think I’ve had the best of both worlds, a good marriage, four kids and my career.”