Terry Minor

Terry Minor, age 76, of Sandy Springs, Georgia, passed away on Tuesday, August 8, 2023, after a long battle with cancer. Terry was born in 1947 in Spring Grove, Indiana, to Charles Minor and Wanda (Minor) Strauch. Terry spent his early days living on a farm in Richmond, Indiana, with his sister (Mary Ann), brother (Tim), and a cow named Graham Cracker. After his family’s home caught fire when Terry was a young boy, Terry made floor plans to rebuild the house, presaging his later career as an architect. Terry’s family subsequently moved to Muncie, Indiana, where he attended Burris, a laboratory school on the campus of Ball State University.

Terry’s artistic talents were evident at an early age. He could paint, draw, and photograph like no one else at the school. As a Junior at Burris, he was sent across the street to Ball State, where he attended art and photography classes with the university students. Terry won several local, regional, and state awards for his photography. In college, he received a scholarship to photograph row houses along the East Coast of the US. His children would later come to dread his quest for the perfect picture during marathon family photo sessions.

Terry was a graduate of the inaugural class of Ball State’s architecture program. The curriculum was rigorous, and less than a third of his classmates would graduate from the program. Terry worked at the Muncie Star Press, as a house painter, and as a mover to put himself through school. Upon graduation, he moved to Atlanta and joined influential architectural firm Toombs, Amisano, and Wells, which created numerous Atlanta landmarks in the 1970s and 1980s. Terry later joined Atlanta architectural firm Thompson, Hancock, Witte and Associates, where he worked for over 30 years as an Associate and member of the firm’s Technical Services Group. Exhibiting the strong work ethic he demonstrated throughout his life, Terry was loathe to retire and continued working part-time up to the point of his passing.

Terry married fellow Indiana native Deborah in 1974 and the couple had 49 joy filled years together. Together they enjoyed visiting museums, attending concerts and theater productions, and traveling. He was a steadying and reassuring presence in his three children’s lives – he was never too busy to take their calls or come when they needed him. He delighted in his grandchildren, maintaining a constant supply of ice cream and toys he knew they’d enjoy.

Terry enjoyed cooking gourmet meals for family and friends, and in his later years got to know the employees at his local grocery store through his frequent visits. He read the print editions of the New York Times and Wall Street Journal daily, clipping out relevant articles for his family and co-workers. He spent most weekends frequenting estate sales, where he had a keen eye for antiques and bargains, and enjoyed sharing his “treasures” with others.

He is survived by his wife, Deborah; son, Charlie; daughter, Katie (Umur); daughter, Elizabeth (Chris); grandchildren, Rosemary, Catherine, Evren, Remzi, Jacob, and Benjamin; brother, Tim (Kristie); and sister, Mary Ann (Marlin).

A funeral mass for Terry will be held Saturday, August 12, 2023 from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM at Holy Spirit Catholic Church, 4465 Northside Dr NW, Atlanta, GA 30327.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Terry's memory may be made to Emory Winship Cancer Institute, https://together.emory.edu/give/to/patient-care-and-community-health/winship-cancer-institute?appeal=UWIN6.