[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 71 (Friday, June 9, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E921]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 HONORING REVEREND W.G. AND MARY TERRY

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DALE E. KILDEE

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 7, 2000

  Mr. KILDEE. Mr. Speaker, thank you for the opportunity to rise before 
you today to speak on the behalf of two people who have made Christian 
Education their life's work. Each year, the Wolverine State Congress of 
Christian Education honors individuals for their commitment to 
Christian Education. On June 7, they will recognize the efforts of 
Reverend Dr. W.G. Terry, and his wife Mary.
  W.G. Terry was born in Linden, Texas, and later moved to Henderson, 
Texas, early in his childhood. After graduating from high school in 
Henderson, Reverend Terry went on to obtain degrees from American 
Baptist Theological Seminary in Nashville, TN; Arkansas Baptist College 
in Little Rock, AK; and Bishop College in Marshall, TX. It was in 
Little Rock that Reverend Terry also received his Doctorate of 
Divinity. Over the years, he has been directed by the Lord to 
pastorates in Little Rock; Mineola, TX; Dyersburg, TN; Jackson, TN; and 
finally New Zion Missionary Baptist Church in Flint, MI, where he has 
been the Pastor for the last 39 years. As Pastor, Reverend Terry 
operates as a spiritual leader, counselor, confidant, and community 
leader, among many other roles. He helped build the First Baptist 
Church in Jackson, Tennessee, and helped organize the Mississippi 
Valley Association School of Ministers. He purchased the New Zion 
building and added educational facilities. He has been recognized for 
distinction by American Baptist Theological Seminary, and by the 
Jackson NAACP as Father of the Year.
  Reverend Terry has held many leadership positions in groups such as 
the Mississippi Valley District Congress, the Interracial Ministers' 
Alliance, and the Wolverine Baptist State Convention. After serving as 
the President of the Great Lakes Baptist Conference for 26 years, he 
was granted Emeritus status. He also serves as an instructor for the 
Flint Baptist Ministers' Alliance and the National Baptist Congress.
  On November 2, 1945, W.G. Terry married Mary Hollins in Henderson, 
Texas. Mrs. Terry was born in Longview, Texas, and completed her 
schooling in Henderson. She attended Fisk University and Tennessee 
State College in Nashville, before receiving a degree from Arkansas 
Baptist College. Mary became a teacher in Texas and Tennessee, and was 
also a Vacation Bible School instructor for the East Texas District 
Baptist Congress. Along with her husband, she helped found the 
Tennessee Baptist Youth Encampment.
  Mrs. Terry currently serves as Co-Director of Christian Education at 
New Zion Missionary Baptist Church. She also serves as an Instructor of 
Minister's Wives for the Great Lakes Baptist Congress and the Wolverine 
State Baptist Congress. She has been Program Director of the National 
Baptist Minister's Wives for more than 40 years. In addition, she and 
her husband have raised a wonderful daughter, and have two 
grandchildren.
  Mr. Speaker, as a former teacher and seminarian, I am very proud of 
the work that Reverend W.G. and Mrs. Mary Terry have done to improve 
our academic and spiritual well being. It is because of people like 
them that the Flint community is a better place in which to live. I ask 
my colleagues in the 106th Congress to join me in congratulating their 
achievements.

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