Mary Frances Terry

Mrs. Mary Frances Small Terry, 95, of Plainfield, NJ and formerly of Clarksville, VA entered eternal rest on Tuesday, April 14, 2026.

Mrs. Terry was born in Henderson, North Carolina on April 22, 1930, the fourth child of Ralph and Harriet Small. She attended public school in Vance County, North Carolina. She accepted Christ at a very young age as a member of Island Hill United Church of Christ in Clarksville, VA. As a teenager, she met the love of her life, John Mason Terry. At the age of 17, she and John married on September 22, 1947. God blessed this union of 72 years with four children.

Mrs. Terry served as First Lady for 46 years at Miracle Baptist Church of Christ, Inc., in Plainfield, New Jersey. She was very active alongside her husband with the Garden State Missionary Baptist Convention, and the National Baptist Convention of America, Inc. Mary was a member of the International Association of Ministers Wives, Ministers Widows Inc., and served the New Jersey Chapter for over 30 years in various leadership roles (President, Secretary, and Treasurer).

Mrs. Terry worked at Artisan Electronics in Parsippany, New Jersey for 14 years. She later joined Howmet Aerospace until retirement in 1992.

In addition to her parents, Mrs. Terry was preceded in death by her husband, Rev. John Terry; her sons, Walter and Quintin Terry; siblings, Ralph, Daniel, Dennis, Macio, Helen, Myrtle (Sister), and Julian (Lillian) and son-in-law, Joe Williams.

Mary leaves to mourn a daughter, Theresa Terry Williams of Harrisburg, PA; a son, Simeon Terry (Alma), Corinth, TX; three grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren, daughter-in-law, Gay Terry of Hampton, VA and a vast number of other loving relatives and caring friends.

Funeral services will be conducted 11:00 AM Saturday, May 9, 2026 at the chapel of C.H. Harris Funeral Home, Buffalo Junction, VA with Rev. John Smith delivering the eulogy. Burial will follow in Mount Ararat Baptist Church Cemetery, Clarksville, VA. Public viewing and family visitation will be on Saturday from 10:00 AM until 10:45 AM at the funeral home.

Arrangements are by C.H. Harris Funeral Home and Cremation Service, Buffalo Junction, VA.