George Raymond Terry, 72, of Sheffield was freed of his burden of cancer on the morning of December 11, 2023. George loved his family and friends fiercely, often becoming an honorary Father or Pawpaw to those who needed him. He loved to tinker with any tool, gadget or piece of machinery he could find and everyone learned his favorite swear words in the process. He loved motorcycles, the Sci-Fi Channel and could grow the coolest mustaches this side of the Mississippi.

He was a proud U.S. Army Veteran and supporter of the Wounded Warrior Project. A memorial fundraiser can be found by searching "George R. Terry" on the WWP Website under "Memorial Pages".

His departure reunites him with his mother and father, Bluitt and Mable Terry. He is survived by his beloved wife, Martha; children, David (Lisa) Terry and Rena (Jimmy) Bogle; grandchildren Jessica, Olivia, Alex, Jacob, Vance and Gabriel; Great-grandchildren Lilly and Cheyenne; Brother, Bobby (Linda) Terry; countless nieces, nephews, and in-laws who he loved as his own children.

There is a freedom in not knowing why we are here, not having a final destination or a deadline we have to reach before the end of our lives; A freedom in not being promised anything when we come into this world. Our names are our earliest titles; we put meaning behind our names and other titles we are given along our journey:  friend, sibling, mother and father.  The beauty is that if you incidentally become someone you do not wish to be, you are under no obligation to remain the same person you were a year ago, a month ago or even an hour ago.  We are here to create ourselves continuously.  It is liberating to pursue wholeness instead of perfection...to pursue love. The small joys of life can feel like accepting a Nobel Peace Prize if you allow it: wind on your face, sunsets, your favorite coffee mug, seeing an old friend.

Life can be unjust, cruel even; therefore, we must not be. We must learn to accept love because that is what we have been promised. I is within us and the people we love, things we enjoy, yearning to be discovered.

When my grandfather is wrapped in this love, in its fullness after he passes, my only wish is that it is familiar. I hope he thinks of all the love he experienced down here with us. I hope he remembers the laughter he created; the peace and safety he brought to me and so many others.  He will be with me when I reheat the old pot of coffee, when I curse too loud, when I insist on being right. You will be with me when I take leaps of faith and take courage and in the times I choose to believe in myself the way you believed in me.

After wiping my tears of grief, tears of joy run down my face. How lucky we were to experience one another, to share the moon and the stars and the ground beneath us, to love and be loved, good food and laughter that makes your stomach hurt just in a good way and that feeling you get when you know you're exactly where you should be! These experiences make life worth it! You were given the title of my grandfather and to say you created something beautiful out of it would be an understatement…I love you not for this title but because of what you chose to do with it!

I love you, Paw!

Your granddaughter, Olivia

Transitory Service Rendered By: Grace Memorial Funeral Home- Sheffield, Alabama