Mary Theresa Belton

On October 12th, Mary Theresa Johnson Belton died peacefully in her sleep surrounded by her husband and loving children.

Theresa was born in Charleston, S.C. on the 20th of July, 1966 to Eugene Richards Johnson and Mary Patricia Johnson. An avid athlete all her life, she was a cheerleader at Middleton High School in Charleston, and lettered in Track & Field as well. She also won many scholastic awards, and sang with the Middleton Singers where she was in the special Madrigal Choir. It was there that she met David Calvin Belton Jr.

Theresa graduated from Clemson University in 1988 as a member of Pi Beta Phi Sorority. A month later, she married Ensign David Belton at the St. John's Cathedral in Charleston. A few months later, the two traveled to Naval Air Station Sigonella, Italy, where they lived on Mount Etna.

In Italy, Theresa earned the prestigious job of MWR Director of two naval bases. Besides managing a bowling alley, restaurant, two gymnasiums, and a number of fields, she also led dozens of local Italians and US sailors, and coordinated hundreds of sporting tournaments and events. During the Persian Gulf War, Theresa was awarded the Meritorious Commendation Medal for her tireless work in housing thousands of troops in her gymnasiums on their way to Kuwait. She also learned to speak Italian, French, and Spanish in Italy...so much so, that she was often mistaken for being a native.

Theresa gave birth to Daniela Carolina Belton during the last days of the war at Naval Base Naples, Italy, while her husband was away on another continent.

Later, the couple moved to Naval Air Station Pensacola, where she gave birth to Caitlin Lee Belton.

In 1999, the couple moved to Buckhead, Georgia, after her husband became a pilot for Delta Air Lines. There, she became a Physical Trainer and then a Massage Therapist while working at the Ritz Carlton on Lake Oconee. Later, she gave birth to David Richards Belton in Athens, GA.

At home, Theresa was a PTO Treasurer, Band Booster President, and Sunday School Teacher for many years. She was also a world traveler, visiting every country in Western Europe, most of the Mediterranean Sea, most of the Caribbean, Mexico, Ireland, Iceland, England, Canada, South Africa, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, and most of America including Hawaii and Alaska.

But most of all, she was a mother who loved her family, and was absolutely devoted to her children.

Theresa is survived by her husband of 37 years, the honorable Georgia State Representative Dave Belton (retired), her daughter Daniela and Cole Perry and their children, Mary Holland and Pierce David; her daughter Caitlin Belton and Patrick George; and her son David Richards Belton. She will also be missed by her mother and two brothers, Eugene Richards Johnson Jr. and William Edward Johnson.

A Visitation will be held at A. E. Carter Funeral Home in Madison on October 17th at 3 pm.

A funeral will be held next week at St. Joseph's Church in Charleston on October 25th at 1030 am.