Denny A. Terry

Denny Austin Terry died peacefully on Nov. 2nd at home in Jackson, MS, with his family by his side. He was born on Dec, 12, 1936, in Columbia, MS, to the late Denson and Lolita Terry. He graduated from Columbia High School and attended MSU, where he received degrees in Mechanical Engineering and Business Administration. Denny was an active member of Sigma Chi fraternity and ROTC. Upon graduation, he was commissioned as 2nd lieutenant in the US Air Force and was stationed in Tyndall Air Force Base (Pensacola, FL) Sonderstrom Air Force Base (Thule, Greenland) and Otis Air Force Base (Falmouth, MS).

Although offered a regular commission with the rank of Captain, he decided to pursue a career in private business with International Paper Company, Mobile, AL, and later The Trane Company, LaCrosse, WI, Birmingham, AL, and Jackson, MS. In 1990, he acquired an ownership interest in Terry-Trane Service Agency and was appointed district manager of the Trane Company for the State of MS. He was active in the ASHRAE and the ASME.

Denny was an avid outdoorsman and enjoyed wing shooting, deer hunting and fishing throughout his life. He helped establish first the Old Bugal (sic) Hunting Club and later the Wilderness Hunting Club in Port Gibson, serving on its board of directors and as treasurer for 25 years. At the time of his death, he held the position of Board Member Emeritus of Mustard Seed, on behalf of his special needs son, Will, and was instrumental in establishing the Mustard Seed campus, group homes, day program and workshop ministry as they exist today.

A life-long interest in wood working and carpentry led to the building of his home at Woodward Place, the renovation of the homes of his children, his Lake Cavalier lake house and numerous pieces of furniture.

Denny was an active member of First Presbyterian Church. He held the positions of Deacon and Elder and served in both capacities with great joy and humility. He was a faithful member of the church choir for 30 years, and was honored to serve on the Pastor Advisory Committee and chair the Sanctuary Building Committee. He taught Sunday School and was an instructor for Explorers’ Couples’ Bible Study. He also served on the Board of Directors of Twin Lakes, was active in the Neighborhood Christian Center, Beginning Again in Christ, and Campus Crusade for Christ for many years.

He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Julia Horne Terry; daughter, Julia Haynes Terry of New Orleans, LA; sons, Lee Ford Terry and wife, Donna Foster Terry, of Jackson, and William Whitten Terry, of Brandon, MS; grandchildren, Carl Austin Terry, Anna Kate Terry, and Molly Foster Terry; sister, Theresa Terry Conerly, of Columbia, MS; brother-in-law, Haynes Porter Horne, III of Birmingham, AL; sisters-in-law, Kathleen Schaeffer Terry of Jackson, Linda Horne Travis, and Carol Horne Gaston of Birmingham, AL; and numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews. Denny was preceded in death by his parents, his older brother, Donald Herbert Terry , and his younger brother William Waldo Terry.

Visitation will be at First Presbyterian Church on Wed, Nov. 5th, 4:00 – 6:00 pm and Thurs, Nov. 6th, 10:00 - 11:00 am. Memorial service will be at 11:00 am in the sanctuary.

Memorials may be made to The Mustard Seed, Inc., 1085 Luckney Rd, Brandon, MS 39047.