Friday, February 6, 2009 11:25 pm

NEW BERN - The Rev. T.O. Terry, 87, died Sunday, Feb. 1, 2009 at home. Funeral services were Friday, Feb. 6, at St. Mary’s Original Free Will Baptist Church, New Bern, with Dr. Billy A. Melvin and the Rev. Craig Simmons officiating. Interment followed at Greenleaf Memorial Park.

He was born in Cordova, Ala., to the late Thomas Oather and Florence Terry. Following graduation from high school, he enlisted in the U. S. Army, serving in Berlin in the European Theater during World War II. He was honorably discharged as a master sergeant.

He graduated from Free Will Baptist Bible College in Nashville, Tenn., in 1951. Beginning his ministry in Ashland City, Tenn., he later moved to eastern North Carolina where he pastored a number of churches and later moved to New Bern.

Surviving: wife, Addie Louise Melvin Terry; son, Thomas O. Terry III (Gloria) of Courthouse Square, Ohio; daughters, Florence Terry Hayes (Mack) of Youngsville and Patricia Mangin (Joe) of Hendersonville, Tenn.; sister, Lora Terry Shutes of Albany, Ga.; five grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by a sister, Lois Terry Harrelson of Birmingham, Ala.

Flowers accepted or if a memorial contribution is preferred, the family feels that a contribution to Free Will Baptist International Missions, P.O. Box 29, Ayden, NC 28513 would be appropriate.

Arrangements by Cotten Funeral Home and Crematory.