Lawrence Terry Oden

Terry was born August 12, 1937, in Birmingham, to Norman and Lettie Oden. He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Sandra; two daughters, Christie of Birmingham and Mary Elliott (Timothy) of Ashburn, VA.; and three grandchildren, Jacob, Keaghan, and Zachary.

Terry was a proud graduate of Woodlawn High School in Birmingham and earned a BA and MS from Auburn University, where he also served as jailer and dispatcher on the Auburn Police Department. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army Security Agency having served 3 years in the Far East, and was a member of the Special Forces Club, London, England.

He was commissioned into the Secret Service in April of 1964 and retired in 1988. During his career he served as one of the first sky marshals, special agent in Atlanta, New York, Birmingham, LBJ Ranch, Washington Field Office and the Presidential Protective Division, opened the RA in Montgomery, Alabama, ASAIC of Kansas City, ASAIC and SAIC of San Francisco, SAIC of Paris office, and SAIC of the Birmingham office. He also was the Security Coordinator of the 1984 Democratic Convention, detail leader of President Reagan’s winning campaign, was a member of the first Foreign Dignitary Detail, and a member of the first Kennedy Detail in NYC. Upon retirement from the Secret Service, he became the Corporate Security director for a large regional bank. After retiring from the bank he opened his own security company.

Terry was a member of the Mountain Brook City Council for four years and Mayor for 20 years (recognized as one of the 10 best cities in US for its school system and quality of life), he was Chairman of the Jefferson County Alabama Emergency Management Agency, a member of the Birmingham Rotary Club for 45 years, and the Pi Kappa Alpha social fraternity. Terry was a skilled woodworker and a collector of vintage fire engines, a lover of dogs and good wine.

Friends are cordially invited to a visitation with the family on Tuesday, the 17th of January from 12:30 p.m. until 2:00 p.m. in the parlor of Canterbury United Methodist Church. The Memorial Service will commence at 2:00 p.m. in the sanctuary of Canterbury United Methodist Church located at 350 Overbrook Road, Mountain Brook, Alabama 35213.

In lieu of customary remembrances, the family requests with gratitude that memorial contributions in Terry’s name be directed to organizations dear to him, the Birmingham Humane Society or the Tunnel to Towers Foundation. Services are under the direction of Ridout's Valley Chapel (205-879-3401) in Homewood.