Terry Williams went home to be with the Lord on July 15. He was born in Forest Home, Ala., on Sept. 17, 1944, to the late Barney William, Sr. and Lizzie M. Powell of Forest Home, Ala. He was the youngest of seven children, five of which preceded him in death: Levi Williams, Nelson Williams, Sr., Barney Williams Jr., Bonell Little and Addie Mae Crenshaw.

Terry grew up in Forest Home and was a member of Rock West Baptist Church where he was baptized and accepted Christ as his personal savior at an early age. He graduated from Greenville Training School in 1962. After high school he moved to Detroit, Mich., where he attended Wayne State University and completed his degree in business. For more than 20 years Terry worked as a computer analyst for General Motors Division in Detroit. His time in Detroit also forged the opportunity for him to experience a brief and successful modeling career.

Although Terry enjoyed the big city life, his desire to return to the small town living of Greenville, Ala., would prove to be too much for him to bear.  He returned home to Greenville and renewed his membership at Rock West Baptist Church and was ordained as a deacon on Jan. 30, 2005.

Terry really believed that education was the key to opening life’s vaults of knowledge and unlimited opportunities. His love for education helped young children open those vaults when he was elected to serve on the Butler County Board of Education. He was elected in June of 2002 and began his first term in January of 2003. For more than a decade he worked diligently with board members to improve the quality of education in Butler County.

He leaves to cherish his memory one child, Ennis Darnell Riley of Detroit; three grandchildren, MaKayla Riley, Joshua Riley and JaKayla Riley, all of Detroit; one sister, Lizzie Mae Stallings of Greenville, Ala.; two foster brothers, Henry (Frances) Herbert, and Joe (Dorothy) Herbert of Greenville; one sister-in-law, Ann (late Barney Jr.)Williams of Birmingham, Ala.; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. He also leaves to honor his memory a loving and devoted godmother, Ms. Ruby Womack.

Visitation will be held on Friday from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the chapel of Carter Rice & West Funeral Home, located at 10 Chalet Dr. in Greenville.

A funeral service will be held on Saturday at noon at Lomax Hannon Bible College, located at 366 S. Conecuh St., in Greenville. Carter Rice & West Funeral Home will direct the arrangements.