By Dawn Scotland
The Truth Reporter
“She’s the glue that keeps the family together”, remarked Annette Ferguson niece of Juanita Terrell who turned 100 years old on November 27.
Juanita Terrell was born in 1923 in Oak Grove, Louisiana to the union of Hines and Rosa Wilder. She is the last sibling of five brothers (Johnnie, Ruby, Tommie, George and Lemon Wilder) and two sisters (Millie Terry and Willie King). She’s devoted her life to the Lord, her family, the education of children and to the church.
On Friday November 24, family, friends, and church members gathered at United Missionary Baptist Church to celebrate the centenarian on her special day – the same church she helped found 40 years ago. Guests donned red 100-year birthday shirts, enjoyed food from Ms. Sonia’s Catering and birthday cake.
“She’s blessed me in so many ways.” her niece continued, “Her strength has made me strong. Her wisdom has made me wise. Her love and made me loving.” Family came from out of town and locally to celebrate.
“She’s just been a fabulous [and] beautiful person…. She’s truly a woman of God. She loves God, she loves her family and she’s always sharing. Whatever she has or whatever she knows she shares it with everybody,” she added.
Terrell believes in the value of education and wore many hats in her lifetime, always remaining active.
She attended public school and graduated from high school in Pioneer, Louisiana. After high school she worked at the Rossford Ordinance Depot beside her longtime friend, the late Marian Thomas, better known as (Nana). She enrolled in beauty school, passed the state board, and was a licensed beautician for many years.
Mrs. Terrell was married to William Terrell Sr. for 45 years before his death in 2001. The pair had two children: Jimmie and Wanda and stepchildren: Bonnie and Billy Terrell, three grandchildren: Jimmie, Jarod and Jarrell; four great grandchildren as well as special nieces Annette Ferguson and Patricia Lee and many nephews and nieces.
Juanita graduated among the top 10 out of 357 at Owens Community College, Early Childhood Development program and earned a bachelor’s degree with Cum Laude distinction in Early Childhood Development from University of Toledo where she was the speaker for the graduating class.
She was employed as a lead teacher for Head Start program over 30 plus years and is a member of the 30 plus club. Her love for children has had a lasting effect on the children she taught.
Juanita Terrell is a charter member of United Missionary Baptist Church. She was a member of the Nurses Guild and a Sunday school teacher over 40 years. She firmly believes in the power of prayer. Her favorite music is Gospel music and favorite singers are James Cleveland and Mahalia Jackson. Her favorite television shows are The Price is Right, Family Feud and court cases.
“To call her mother, grandmother, granny T, aunt, Nita and Mrs. Terrell was a great honor” shared daughter Wanda Terrell-Galloway. “To have called her a child of the King, blessed beyond measure for 100 years, highly favored and had a great relationship with the Lord is really Juanita Terrell.”
