Mr. Walter McCoy Terry, Sr., age 88 passed away with his family by his side at Vidant Roanoke-Chowan Hospital on Sunday, May 27, 2012. He was a true family man, enjoying any time he had to spend with his children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren. An outdoorsman, he enjoyed fishing any chance he got. Mr. Terry also had a passion for gardening, taking great pride in tending his soil and watching what his plants produced. He retired from the North Carolina Hwy Division where he served as shop foreman for many years. A true ‘Mr. Fix-It,’ he worked with Eddie Harrell’s when he retired and could always get your lawn mower running like new. Mr. Terry served his country in the Navy for several years during World War II.
Preceding him in death were his parents, Ella Greene and Walter James Terry, his sisters, Bertie Register, Nora Tillett, Hazel Cooke, Mary Rogerson and Annie Minton, his brothers, James, Richard, Jake and Kelly Terry, two great-grandchildren, Samantha and Heidi Terry, one great-great-grandchild, Nicholas Brown, a son-in-law, Steve Smith and a daughter-in-law,Linda Terry.
Left to cherish his memory is his loving wife of 65 years, Myrtle Terry of the home, two daughters; Melba Phillips and her husband Mike of Burlington, NC and Ann Smith of Greenville, NC, four sons; Wilbert McCoy Terry and his wife Effie of Yorktown, VA, Robert ‘Bobby’ James Terry and his wife Linda of Aulander, NC, Kenneth Ray Terry of Greenville, NC and Walter McCoy Terry, Jr. of the home, along with 17 grandchildren; Ralph, Robert, Coy, Ken, Chad, Natalie Nichole, Chase and Sierra Terry, Sheila Bradley, Sharon Burden, Michelle Elayah, Allen Moody, Stefanie Horton, Daniel Joyner, Steven and Summer Smith and Casey Marshall, also surviving are 30 great-grandchildren and 16 great-great-grandchildren
I Knew a Man
I knew a man who lived in the quietness of life.
A simple man – yet, a man who somehow seemed to understand the most complicated thing of all – life itself.
A man who taught me the value of a dollar through hard work, the value of my fellow man, the value of family and friends, the value of a good marriage, and the value of faith in God and prayer.
He taught me to treat people as people, regardless of their race or standing in life.
He taught me to treat others as I would want to be treated.
To always tell the truth – to always look for the good in others – that if I could not say anything good about someone, not to say anything at all.
A man who gave me a good sense of humor to cope with the troubles and heartaches that life can sometimes bring.
A man, who through the way he lived life, taught me the true secrets of living a happy life.
A man who had one of the biggest and kindest hearts I think I have ever felt or known.
A man who instilled in me the love of family – my wife, my children, my parents, and God above.
A man whose steps did not shake the earth, but left gentle footprints of good things in every life in which he walked.
A man whose name brings a swell of pride in my chest when I would tell folks, ‘You probably knew my father, Walter Terry.’
Because I knew they were going to tell me what a fine and good man he was.
He had what would be called ‘a dry sense of humor’ that was not equaled by anyone that I have ever known. It’s just one of many likeable qualities of this man that I loved and still love.
He was not a scholar, as far as books are concerned, but he is one of the smartest men that I have ever known. His common sense and sound advice have never failed me. I am proud to be called his son!
He liked the simple things of life –
His pipe
His family being around him
His easy chair
A good baseball game on TV
A fishing pole
A good meal
A good story or joke
His harmonica
The preciousness of a baby or small child
Giving to others
Doing for others
His garden
Good company
Good friends
Good conversation
Work
God and prayer
His wife and the mother of their children.
Yes, I knew a man.
He was and always will be my Deddy.
And I loved him and still love him with all of my heart,
Looked up to him with the greatest admiration,
And have tried to live my life to win his admiration that he might be as proud of me as I am of him.
I love you, Deddy!
Your son, Kenny
I am sorry to learn of your family sorrow. The death of a loved one is painful. If I may, I’d like to share scripture found in your Bible that may comfort you in some way. Please take a moment to read John 6:40, 44, Ps. 36:9, 37:29.
So sorry to hear of the death of Mr. Terry, he was a good friend and a wonderful person.Our prayers go out to the whole family. God bless you all. Ed & Teresa Evans
love and miss u very much grandaddy….
Mrs. Terry, I’m so sorry to hear of your loss. I used to work at Ahoskie Child Support and enjoyed the many years of talking with you at the drugstore. You were always smiling and pleasnt.