A few moments after boarding a taxi in Durban, South Africa, July 11, 1998, Bob Terry’s life changed forever.
That day Terry, editor of The Alabama Baptist, and his wife, Eleanor, were in a car accident that resulted in a MedJet evacuation back to Birmingham and the death of Eleanor.
Alabama Baptists and people across the nation rallied behind the Terry family and The Alabama Baptist as the Terrys tried to pick up the pieces and make sense of the tragedy. Through that time, the state Baptist paper became real to many people. Hundreds of prayers, cards, calls, e-mails and visits came to the Terry family.
Thousands of dollars also came in to the Terry Medical Fund to help alleviate some of the financial pressures.
Just more than two years later, $40,547.44 in principal and interest remained in the Terry Medical Fund when Bob Terry’s medical expenses had been met after a series of surgeries.
The board of directors of The Alabama Baptist decided that in keeping with the wishes of the donors to the medical fund they would donate the remaining money to the Dr. Eleanor Terry Chair of the Christian Women’s Leadership Center at Samford University.
Bubba Scott, chairman of the board, presented the check during The Alabama Baptist report at the Alabama Baptist State Convention.
Accepting the check on behalf of the center and the WMU Foundation, Alan Medders said, “We appreciate this check that will benefit the Eleanor Terry Chair and the Christian Women’s Leadership Center. This will help them honor Eleanor. We know she has been honored and that her legacy will be continued through the chair.”
Terry thanked Alabama Baptists for donating to the medical fund. “We are very grateful for that and to the members of the board of directors who followed through with your wishes and voted unanimously to make this donation. We will always be indebted to them for honoring Eleanor in this way.”
Terry also thanked the messengers for their prayers and support of the state Baptist paper, which he noted was voted as the outstanding regional Christian newspaper by two of the three national religious journalism associations in 1999. The paper came in second in the third association.
Also honored was the state Baptist paper’s coverage of the lottery vote, the Book of Reports stated.
“All of us are honored to serve you and to serve our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,” Terry said. (TAB)
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