Theresa Denise Gailliard

Theresa Denise (Robinson) Gailliard was born on April 19, 1952 in Brooklyn, NY. She was the youngest of four children born to the late Dorothea Osborne Robinson Threatt and Richard Robinson. Theresa spent her early years in East New York, Brooklyn, eventually moving to Uniondale, Long Island in her pre-teens. Theresa graduated from Uniondale High School in 1970 and joined her brothers at the State University of New York in Albany, NY. It is here where she met the love of her life, Glenn Gailliard, Sr. They were married on June 29, 1974. To this union was born four children: Glinnesa, Bernadette, Gwendolyn, and Glenn Jr. In that same year Theresa started working for the New York State Public Service Commission. She provided 36 years of dedicated service to the constituents of New York, eventually retiring in 2010.

Theresa was raised in the Baptist church, being baptised in the East End Baptist Church in Brooklyn. In Albany, she continued her spiritual journey at Morning Star Missionary Baptist Church. Theresa served several positions within Morning Star, including as Financial Secretary, Trustee, and Assistant Director (eventually moving to Director) of the Youth Ministries. As Director of the Youth Ministries, ‘Aunt Teri’ (as she was affectionately known) made sure to train up the youth of Morning Star in the way they should go with weekly Bible Studies and many activities that kept them engaged in the community and fostered their growth as leaders. The youth were active in the Empire Baptist Missionary Convention through attending the Youth Conference, Congress of Christian Education, and other programs throughout the state. She put together the youth program every fourth Sunday and Children's Day. She also organized quarterly family fun events that included volunteering at Equinox for Thanksgiving, caroling at local nursing homes for Christmas, apple picking and baking pies in the fall, and more. 

In her free time, Theresa spent her time playing cards, bowling, hosting her family and friends, traveling the world, and taking day trips. She had an entrepreneurial spirit that inspired an ongoing support of Black-owned businesses. She also had a passion for protecting seniors and providing them important information so they were empowered and not taken advantage of. Theresa’s love for travel was a joy she picked up from her mother that she instilled in her children. She especially had a love for cruising and went as often as she could, often accompanied by her children, grandchildren, siblings, and extended family. Her biggest dream was to visit the island of St. Kitts where her grandmother, Enid Arno, was born and raised. She realized that dream in August 2017 when she and her siblings ventured to the island to explore their roots.          

The morning of May 12, 2025, Theresa released her earthly bonds to join her mother, father and her sister Lauretta Johnson. To cherish decades of memories, she leaves Glenn Gailliard Sr., devoted husband; children Glinnesa D. Gailliard, Esq., Bernadette Gailliard, Ph.D., Gwendolyn Gailliard, and Glenn Gailliard, Jr. (Tarah); grandchildren Alexis Brown, Jayla Gailliard, Jacob Gailliard, and Glenn Mayabi; brothers Ronald Robinson (Ella) and Richard Robinson (Judith); sisters Arlita Long and Laura Brathwaite (Lee); great aunt Edith Nevins; her lifelong friends Michelle Browning Bryant, Cheryl Callahan, Linda Dorsey, Barbara Patterson, and Deborah Pullen; and a host of nieces, nephews, family, and friends.

Theresa’s spirit was bright and infectious and touched the lives she came into contact with. She had an amazing sense of humor and extended love to all that encountered her, even if it was for a little while. She fiercely loved her family and those who were important to them instantly became extended family. Her legacy will live on in her children, family, and friends and her earthly presence will be greatly missed.

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