Carolyn Hicks Terry

January 2, 2011

Carolyn Hicks Terry passed away on December 28, 2010 after an eight year battle with multiple myeloma. She died surrounded by her family at Cartersville Medical Center, Cartersville, GA.

Born December 11, 1944, Carolyn was the second daughter of Myra and Herbert Hicks of Barth, FL. She graduated from Pensacola High School, where she met her husband, James “Ike” Terry, attended Pensacola Junior College, and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Florida State University in 1966. She was a member of Alpha Gamma Delta women’s fraternity. Ike and Carolyn married on September 3, 1966.

Working after her marriage as a public health nurse, Carolyn traveled throughout rural Escambia County bettering the lives of terminally ill tuberculosis patients. However, her first love was education, and she began teaching Health Occupations to middle school students in 1971, teaching first at Beggs Educational Center and then at Ransom Middle School before retiring in 2003. Working closely with education specialists, Carolyn helped write the first Health Occupations textbook published by the State of Florida.

Ike and Carolyn moved to Barth in 1977, building their home on eighty acres and establishing the Lakeside at Barth campground. Carolyn loved the woods at Barth, especially enjoying bird watching from her front deck.

Carolyn and Ike were active members at First United Methodist Church in Pensacola, where Ike served as organist until his death in 1986, and Carolyn sang alto in the Sanctuary Choir. She served many couples as their wedding hostess at First Church, and enjoyed participating in and attending many concerts and musical offerings. After moving to Cartersville in 2008, Carolyn was able, on occasion, to join the choir of her new church, Sam Jones United Methodist. She continued supporting the adult choirs at both Sam Jones in Cartersville and First Church in Pensacola with her prayers and her musical talents. Her special prayers always included the words of St. Francis of Assisi, “Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace.”

While living in Cartersville, Carolyn wrote many cards and made phone calls to the sick and home bound members of Sam Jones United Methodist, and was an active grandmother to her two granddaughters, attending every school and church event.

Carolyn served at various times on the Board of Directors for Molino Utilities, the Molino Volunteer Fire Department, Pensacola Symphony Children’s Chorus (now Pensacola Children’s Chorus), Visiting Nurses Association, Delta Kappa Gamma Society International and North Pensacola Relay for Life. Until her cancer prevented her from attending meetings, she was an active member of the Cantonment Rotary Club and a Paul Harris Fellow.

Carolyn loved to travel. Throughout her life, she traveled to forty nine states and many countries in Europe. She loved to camp, and particularly loved vacationing at National Parks and State Parks. She relished her regular trips to the Smoky Mountains and Disney World. Carolyn attended every home game of the Florida State University football team for twenty years. She instilled in her two children a love and appreciation for different cultures and travel experiences.

Carolyn was preceded in death by her husband, James “Ike” Terry, and her parents Myra McLean Hicks and Herbert Fisher Hicks.

She is survived by two children, Matt Terry (Barbara) of Cartersville, GA, and Anne Terry Vasile (Victor) of Huntsville, AL; two granddaughters, Alice Ann and Emma Jane Terry of Cartersville; a sister, Marjorie Lu Hicks Greenwald of Pensacola; nephew, Michael Greenwald (Kathy) of Hayward, CA and great-niece, Katherine Greenwald of Hayward. Carolyn also leaves many loved extended family members and good friends who have helped her during her battle with cancer.

Pallbearers will be Jim Bassett, Bill Dannelly, Michael Greenwald, Paul Plant, Swinson Schipman, and David Wooten. Honorary Pallbearers are members of the Cantonment, FL Rotary Club.

Visitation will be from 2:00-4:00 PM, Sunday January 2, 2011 at Harper Morris Memorial Chapel on Airport Blvd. Funeral will be 11:00 AM Monday January 3, 2011 at First United Methodist Church, Pensacola, with The Rev. Dr. Wesley Wachob, The Rev. Dr. Henry Roberts, and The Rev. Alan Gantzhorn officiating. Burial will follow the service at Bayview Memorial Park Cemetery.

Flowers are appreciated, or donations may be made to the “Cantonment Rotary Club Foundation” with a designation for the “Ike Terry Memorial Scholarship fund.”

Comments

3 Responses to “Carolyn Hicks Terry”

  1. Emma jane terry on January 8th, 2014 5:22 pm

    Carolyn terry was my grandmother I could not get over it when she died

  2. Debi Perdue Schaffer on February 7th, 2011 9:41 am

    Mr. Ike was my Chorus Teacher at Pensacola High School. What a wonderful person (and role model) he was and a great teacher. He was such an encourager. I met Ms. Carolyn while in the PHS Choral Program. She was always so sweet and supportive! What a great couple they were! I accompanied the chorus and Voices at PHS under Mr. Terry’s leadership. I can think of many students (as well as myself) during that time whose lives he and Ms. Terry impacted in such a positive way. My deepest sympathy to the family.

  3. Wally on February 5th, 2011 8:33 am

    I remember Ike and Mrs. Terry from when He directed Tones at Tate, He and Mrs. Terry did love those Fish ponds in Barth. God Bless the Families. He was a good mentor to me and many others.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under Obituaries