Teri Lathrom
Delhi | Save
Teri Lynn Lathrom, 64, passed away peacefully at 3:20 p.m., Wednesday, August 5, 2026, in the Emergency Room at Jersey Community Hospital, leaving behind a legacy defined not by what she had, but by the countless lives she touched with her unwavering compassion, quiet faith, and selfless love.
She was born on March 8, 1962, in Jerseyville, the daughter of the late Wayne and Opal (Williams) Ervin. A lifelong resident of Jersey County, Teri graduated with the Jersey Community High School Class of 1980 and remained deeply rooted in the community she was proud to call home.
For Teri, caring for others was never simply a career. It was the calling God placed on her heart.
She began her working life as a Certified Nursing Assistant at the former Jersey Care Center in Jerseyville before accepting a position with the Jersey County Health Department, where she faithfully served as a Home Health Aide for nearly three decades. Even beyond her responsibilities there, she continued providing private home health care for area families who needed an extra helping hand.
To those around her, they may have been patients. To Teri, they were simply "her people."
She cared for each person with a tenderness and dignity that made them feel valued, loved, and never alone. She celebrated their victories, carried their burdens, and mourned their losses as though they were her own. The relationships she built extended far beyond appointments and schedules, becoming lifelong friendships and chosen family. While she undoubtedly left an unforgettable mark on those she cared for, they also changed her life in immeasurable ways. Caring for others wasn't something Teri did. It was simply who she was.
That same heart for serving others was evident in every aspect of her life.
A woman of deep and abiding faith, Teri was a devoted member of Faith Temple in Jerseyville, where her church family became an important part of her life. She especially treasured her time with the Women of Faith group, finding encouragement, fellowship, and lasting friendships among women who shared her love for the Lord.
She found joy in life's simple blessings. She loved spending weekends searching yard sales for hidden treasures and never outgrew the comfort she found in watching Leave It To Beaver, a show she had cherished since childhood that always reminded her of home, simpler times, and familiar comforts.
Yet above all else, Teri's greatest joy was her family.
She married the love of her life, Timothy Lathrom, on July 12, 1996, in Jerseyville, and together they built a home centered on love, faith, and caring for others. That love was perhaps most evident when Teri and Tim welcomed her mother into their home during the later years of her life, allowing her to remain where she most wanted to be, surrounded by family and the comfort of home. It was a final gift of love that perfectly reflected the compassionate life Teri lived every day.
Nothing, however, compared to the happiness she found in being "Nana." Her granddaughter, Layla, was the light of her life. Whether they were laughing together, making memories, or spending warm summer days splashing around at Raging Rivers Water Park, those moments were among Teri's greatest treasures.
She is survived by her beloved husband of thirty years, Timothy Lathrom of Delhi; her children, Justin Combs and Jenna Lathrom, both of Delhi; her cherished granddaughter, Layla Dunham of Delhi; her sister and brother-in-law, Eileen and Doug Cheatham of Godfrey; her brother and sister-in-law, Kenny and Laurie Ervin of Brighton; her nephews, Adam and Katie Kuehnel of Jerseyville and their family, Draven, Arianna, and Eliza; Jacob and Jennifer Kuehnel of Jerseyville and their son, Jonah; and Jonathon Cheatham of St. Louis, Missouri, along with many extended family members, dear friends, her church family, and the countless people whose lives were forever changed simply by knowing her.
Visitation will be held from 10 a.m. until time of funeral services at 12 p.m., Wednesday, August 12, 2026 at Faith Temple in Jerseyville.
Burial will follow at Oak Grove Cemetery in Jerseyville.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the family, in care of Crawford Funeral Home.
Some people leave behind accomplishments. Others leave behind possessions. Teri left something far more lasting. She left people who were better because they had been loved by her. Her kindness will continue to echo through every life she touched, and her memory will remain a blessing to all who were fortunate enough to know her.
Memories may be shared with the family by visiting www.crawfordfunerals.com.
Crawford Funeral Home
