Funeral services for Geneva “Sue” Bates Terry, 85, of Decatur will be Saturday, July 25, 2015 at 3 p.m. at Roselawn Funeral Home with Reverend Tom Salter officiating. Burial will be in Roselawn Cemetery. Visitation will be today from 5 to 7 p.m. and one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.
Mrs. Terry was born on September 8, 1929 in Morgan County to William Burt and Lillie Bates. She was a graduate of Eva High School and Albright Business College. She was a member of First Baptist Church in Decatur for over 60 years.
In the 1950’s, Mrs. Terry began her career as a runway model for Buttrey’s Department Store. Later, Mrs. Terry retired after 35 years of employment as store manager for Lorch Diamond Center, where she won numerous awards for her service, including company-wide Manager of the Year. She worked hard her entire life and made sure to instill that same strong work ethic in her children.
Mrs. Terry’s children and grandchildren were her pride and joy and cherished spending time with them. Her hobbies included interior decorating, collecting antiques, quilting, Alabama football, cooking, and vegetable and flower gardening. She is well known for her fried chicken and made sure that no one ever left her home hungry or empty handed. Her love for gardening led to her help in establishing Great Expectations Greenhouse, a non-profit organization, benefiting the Mental Health Center of North Central Alabama, after retirement.
Mrs. Terry is preceded in death by her parents; son, Russell Neal Terry; granddaughter, Jessica Terry Evans; husband, Lawrence “Pete” Terry; two sisters, Berta Brown and Eula Benefield; two brothers, Elsworth Bates and William Bates; and her children’s father, O’Neal Terry.
She is survived by three daughters, Jan Terry Hamilton (Mike) of Trinity, Peggy Terry Carden (Danny) of Hartselle and Lisa Terry Cagle (Mike) of Decatur; five grandchildren, Susan Hamilton Mitchell (Jon) of Millbrook, Michael Hamilton Jr. (Courtney) of Trussville, Danielle Carden of Hartselle, Nick Terry (Kayla) of LaFayette, GA and Craig Carden (Rosie) of Tampa, FL; five great-grandchildren, Harrison Mitchell, Caroline Mitchell, Michael Hamilton III, Sammy Carden and McKinley Terry; stepson, Bobby Lawrence Terry (Glenda) of Trinity; and stepdaughter, Kim Terry Daily (Greg) of Jasper, IN.
Pallbearers will be Mike Hamilton, Danny Carden, Mike Cagle, Michael Hamilton, Jr., Jon Mitchell, Nick Terry and Craig Carden.
The family wishes to express special thanks to the staff of Morningside Assisted Living, the ICU and 4th floor staff of Decatur Morgan Hospital, Evelyn Cohn and Dr. Roger Moss.
