She met him in September 2017, mere hours before the monster Category 5 Hurricane Irma ravaged the Florida coast. Impending evacuation orders had thinned the normal crowd in the restaurant, and as the night sky prepared to give way to ominous storm clouds, a homeless man sat on a guard rail by the ocean, seemingly oblivious to the storm approaching.

Inside the restaurant, Teri paused, staring inquisitively at the man. In a move that was (and continues to be) truly, uniquely Teri, she brought him inside and offered him a beer and her tuna melt.

“What are you doing here, man? There’s a storm coming,” Teri said.

Ooof, he smelled so bad.

After a few moments, the man finally answered, “I’m waiting for Jesus to come and get me.”

Teri paused and scowled at him. “What?”

Then she realized…what sat in front of her was a man…broken by the storms of living…ready for an epic storm to take his life.

You see, Teri has a gift that eludes most of us. She always recognizes the hurt, the lost, the broken. She sees them, but what makes her different is that she stops when most would simply walk by. This gift is the hallmark of her life.

Teri rescues wounded souls.

“No, you are not going to meet Jesus today. What’s your name?”

The man answered quietly, “Jerry.”

It was clear that Jerry was without a home. His wiry white beard puffed and trailed below his belly button. He smelled awful, and Teri discovered he hadn’t had the simple gift of a shower in over a year. His eyes were hollow, tired, and sad, having weathered far more storms than a man is made for.

Teri later learned that Jerry had served in the Navy, worked as an NBC film editor for 20 years, and then fell on hard times, eventually becoming homeless, a chapter that lasted 35 long years. Jerry had been arrested 54 times on various nuisance charges, crimes that run rampant among the homeless population.

If there is one constant in life, it is that Teri is a rebel. And if you know her, you also know this.

She is unflinchingly rebellious in righting the wrongs of the past. In everything she does, Teri works to make things whole…to set things right.

“C’mon, Grandpa, you’re coming with me,” she said, and at this point, Jerry already knew better than to argue with Teri.

Smart move, Jerry. Smart move.

In the days that followed, she cleaned him up, fed him, and clothed him. She listened and learned about this man who was ready to lose his life.

Teri fondly remembers those first days, sharing about the journey of bringing him back from the brink. His body was so unaccustomed to regular meals that she recounts wrapping him with an eating coat and a shower curtain (underneath) before meals.

Over time, Jerry continued to open up to Teri. She discovered he had been thrown out of a local Hilton hotel several times.

“Get up,” she ordered. “We’re going somewhere.”

That day, Teri dipped into her savings and bought him a new wardrobe, complete with what she now calls Jerry’s “gangster pants.”

Teri, Jerry, and Jerry’s gangster pants paid a visit to the above-named Hilton hotel and nested comfortably in two chaise lounges by the pool. Jerry was nervous and hesitant.

“You belong here. Don’t think you don’t,” Teri said firmly. She plopped a $20 bill in his hand. “Grandpa, go order us three beers, and tell them to keep the change.”

He fidgeted nervously.

Teri met his gaze. “You do not need to be afraid. You have every right to be here. Now, go.”

A few minutes passed. Jerry appeared from around the corner, grinning from ear to ear, holding three beers triumphantly.

“See, you are somebody!” Teri laughed proudly, and they proceeded to savor the frostiest of Bud Lights together.

Behind Teri’s broad smile, she had already silently promised never to let anyone make him feel like a nobody…ever again.

Soon after, Teri decided that Jerry would stay with her. She was determined to demonstrate uncommon kindness that is so rare in our world today. She clothed him, fed him, and provided for him. As the years passed, they became close, and Teri began to consider him a grandfather figure. Their relationship was a family made by choice. They moved states together, went through tough times together, and continued to build their friendship, and there are many, many more stories that Teri and Jerry shared.

Then…Jerry inspired Teri to begin rescuing animals. Those that were abandoned, surrendered, beaten, and starving. The ones cast out by the storms of the living.

And we all know how that went…hundreds of lives were saved. It is now a job from which Teri never rests.

The world is a much better place because of Teri and her unphased, unapologetic, and unstoppable gift of spotting and building up the broken.

On September 18th, 2024, nearly seven years to the day that Teri found him despondent, sitting on a guardrail by the ocean, Jerry passed away quietly in his sleep. Teri is heartbroken, but she is never deterred from defending the vulnerable.

That day in 2017, Jerry said he was waiting to meet Jesus in the storm.

God’s promises often come through people who are willing to serve, and I believe that Jerry met Jesus through Teri that day…a small and mighty woman who refused to look away.

We should all strive to be that salt and light in someone’s eyes, to demonstrate the unconditional love of Jesus.

Today, Teri’s wish is to complete Jerry’s story by restoring his dignity in death as she did in his life. She wants to honor his request to be buried honorably, and we ask that you consider donating to help with the funeral and burial expenses. No donation is too small, and if you’re not able to donate, we ask that you consider sharing with your friends and family and on social media.

As a village, we can truly make a difference.

2 Corinthians 5:15 - And he did for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.

Say “hello” to Jesus for us, Jerry. We’ll all meet again soon.

If applicable, proceeds above the funeral costs will be utilized to rescue dogs in need, including purchasing dog food and medical supplies, providing triage care to injured dogs, paying for much-needed spay and neuter surgeries, and supporting dog rescue as a whole.

If applicable, proceeds above the funeral costs will be utilized to rescue dogs in need, including purchasing dog food and medical supplies, providing triage care to injured dogs, paying for much-needed spay and neuter surgeries, and supporting dog rescue as a whole.

Fundraiser To Help Teri Ahmann With Jerry's Funeral