James Edward Terry, 86, formerly of Cleveland, Ohio and St Louis, Missouri, passed away on April 28, 2013 in Houston, Texas. He was preceded in death by his wife, Elizabeth Ann Marshall of Cleveland, Ohio, and oldest daughter, Blanche Robin Terry of St. Louis, Missouri.
He was born in Greensburg, Pennsylvania to William Terry and Sallie Rodgers Terry on February 15, 1927 and graduated high school in 1944 at the age of 17. After serving in the Army, Terry attended Howard University graduating in 1949. He later earned his L.L.B from Case Western Reserve University Law School.
Terry practiced law as a partner in the firm, Stokes, Character, Terry and Perry before accepting the position as general counsel for the Cleveland Transit System. He later accepted the position as general manager of Bi-State Transit System in St. Louis, Missouri. In 1978, Terry served as Director of Employee Relations at Bay Area Transit System in Oakland, California, until he returned to private practice in St Louis, Missouri. Terry was a lifelong ambassador of his community serving in numerous leadership positions within the Goodwill Industries of America, The Urban League, and the American Transit Association. Prior to his retirement from the practice of law due to health challenges, he was also conferred the distinction of induction into the National Bar Association’s Hall of Fame.
Terry is survived by his daughters, Jamie (Nelson Anthony) Terry, M.D. and Sally (Michael) Terry Green, J.D., five grandchildren (Taylor, Canaan, Coulson, Michael II., and Jillian) of Houston, Texas, and his older sister, Mary A. Terry of New York City, New York.
Cremation services were handled by Troy B. Smith Funeral Service, www.troybsmith.com. Terry’s remains will be interred, along with his deceased wife, at the Houston National Cemetery, Houston, Texas.
