Theresa Thomas

Theresa Thomas — remembered by many as “Poochie” — was a 44-year-old mother from Louisville whose life was defined by care for others and steady ties to her community. Those who knew her spoke of a woman who could be relied upon: a coworker who helped friends at the Platinum Food Mart on South 10th Street and West Broadway, and a mother whose children were central to her days. Colleagues recalled her kindness, generosity, and willingness to lend a hand — traits that shaped how she lived and how people around her described her.

Theresa balanced work and family life in ways familiar to many: showing up for shifts, looking after home responsibilities, and being present for her children. Her nickname, “Poochie,” was used affectionately by friends and coworkers, a small sign of the warm, familiar place she held in the neighborhood where she lived and worked. Co-workers described her as someone who would help others without hesitation and who left a lasting impression on people she met at the store and in the Russell neighborhood.

On April 2, 2023, Theresa’s life was cut tragically short. Public reporting indicates she died after being shot inside a convenience store in Louisville; the circumstances reported emphasize that she intervened in a moment of crisis. While those facts are part of the public record, Theresa’s identity extended far beyond that day — she was a mother, a coworker, and a friend whose daily acts of care mattered to many.

Public accounts and friends’ statements following her death show a community grieving a familiar presence and honoring the small but meaningful ways she supported others. Those who remember Theresa have spoken of her as generous and giving — someone who made an ordinary neighborhood brighter through everyday kindness. This remembrance honors Theresa’s life and the human connections she nurtured: the children she raised, the coworkers who called her “Poochie,” and the neighbors who knew her by name. Her life mattered to those closest to her, and her memory endures in their stories and affection.