Terry Holt

He was preceded in death by his parents; his beloved wife of 47 years, Linda I. Holt; and his grandson, Thomas Holt Milstead.

He is survived by his daughters, Sandra Milstead (Daryl), Holly Thrasher (Tim), and Crystal Loffredo (Eddie Harper); his grandchildren, Cleveland Milstead (Kristen), Mallory Sullivan (Neil), Vari Hudson (Dr. William Hudson), Grayce Squires, Ryan Key-Holt (Ashlon), Caden Moore, Margarita Loffredo, Tony Thrasher (Katherine), Tim Thrasher (Sarah), and William Thrasher; numerous great-grandchildren; as well as several nieces, nephews, extended family members, and dear friends who will all cherish his memory.

He was a proud veteran of the United States Army, where he served in Okinawa and earned recognition as a sharpshooter. Following his military service, he built a long career with Thompson Fabricating in Tarrant, Alabama.

A man of remarkable creativity and many interests, Terry found joy in woodworking, restoring and creating beautiful handcrafted furniture pieces. He was also known as someone who could repair or rebuild almost anything.

He was an accomplished photographer who loved restoring old photographs, often making treasured family memories look even better than the originals. He also devoted countless hours to researching his family’s genealogy and authored several publications documenting his findings, leaving a lasting legacy for future generations.

More than anything, Terry loved people. He had an incredible gift for making friends wherever he went and rarely met a stranger. His warm smile, engaging personality, and genuine interest in others made everyone feel welcome. His faith, generosity, and love for his family were evident throughout his life.

The family will receive friends on Friday, August 14, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. at Ridout’s Valley Chapel in Homewood, Alabama. A graveside service with military honors will follow at 2:30 p.m. at Athens City Cemetery in Athens, Alabama.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the UAB NICU Family Support Fund, which provides meals for families with a sick baby while in the UAB NICU. Checks can be mailed to UAB NICU Family Support Attn: Sandra Milstead at UAB Women and Infants Center 619 19th Street South Suite 5350 Birmingham, AL 35233

The family would like to express their heartfelt gratitude to the physicians and staff of the Birmingham VA Medical Center, the caring team at Always There In Home Care, and Meals on Wheels for the compassion and support they provided to Terry during his final years.

Though he will be deeply missed, Terry’s family finds comfort in knowing that he is now at peace in the presence of his Savior. His legacy of faith, craftsmanship, curiosity, kindness, and love for family will continue to inspire all who knew him.