Thomas Terrell, Jr.

          Thomas Terrell, Jr. was born August 5, 1930, to Thomas Terrell, Sr. and Gaither Steeple

Terrell in Toccoa, Georgia. He graduated from Toccoa Colored School in 1950. He

served in the United States Army as a Military Police Officer from 1951-1954. 

           Thomas has been with his wife, Thelma Brewer Terrell, for 60 years. When they moved to New

York, he worked as a carpenter and raised a family. He was an active member of the

community, coaching soccer and serving as a Boy Scout leader. During his time in New

York, Thomas served as a Steward at Durham AME Zion Church for 20 years where he

also sang with the Male Chorus and Gospel Choir. Upon his retirement and return to

Toccoa he was a member of the Black Christian Men’s Association and sang with The Men

of Gospel and the Gospel Choir. He also served as a Deacon at Mount Zion Baptist

Church from 2001 until his death in 2024.

          Thomas is survived by his wife, Thelma Brewer Terrell, and his sister, Mary Helen Knox, of

Toccoa, GA, his sons Darryl Grant and wife Pat of Atlanta, GA, Michael (wife

Chrystalyn, deceased) Terrell of Brooklyn, NY, Thomas Maxwell Terrell and wife Lori of

Chesapeake, VA, his daughter Michelle Terrell-Grier, and husband Elwood of

Hempstead, NY, and his daughter of the heart, Jessica Lyles. He is an uncle to 28

nieces and nephews, grandfather to 14 children, and great-grandfather to a host of

children.