Chief Master Sergeant Thomas L. Terrell slipped early bounds on January 11, 2026. He was born 29 October, 1934 in Memphis, Tennessee to Earl and Mary Terrell who preceded him in death. He leaves behind the love of his life, his wife of 69 years, Mary J. (Joyce) Terrell; his three children, Thomas M. (Mike) Terrell of Williamsburg, Va., Kathy L. (Lori) Evanchyk and her husband Rory Evanchyk of Milton, Florida, and William E. (Bill) Terrell and wife Jenifer of Huntsville, Alabama; his grandchildren, Summer Terrell, MaryAnn Strawitch and husband Fred, Michelle Roberts and husband Oliver, Ryan Terrell, and Jordan Terrell; great-grandchildren, Frederick Strawitch and Grace and Genevieve Roberts and his special friend, Michelle Terrell.

Chief Terrell spent 29 years serving his country in location all over the United States of America, including overseas in Labrador, Alaska, Japan and Combat tours both in Korea and Vietnam. Two of his more interesting assignments, one was in a highly classified project where he and 5 other volunteers were first vetted for a Top Secret/SCI security clearances, then trained on classified equipment in Texas. Following that, they deployed to Vietnam to start over 115 Combat Recon Flights over NVA, after only a few flights the project was sent to Laos, on several occasions while they were targeted by NVA forces. The security of the aircraft and its mission required that it and the personnel be moved to Thailand, where the men completed their 14-month tour. This combat time and other varying assignments earned Chief Terrell his Air Crew Wings, Meritorious Service Medal, Bronze Star, Air Medal (With four clusters), Air Force Commendation Medal with three clusters, and a Vietnam Service Medal. Following their return home the men were ordered not to discuss the project or some of the locations from where they had flown for over fifteen years with anyone or even their families.

Following a few years at stateside locations, Chief Terrell was asked to volunteer for Special Assignments to the Armed Forces Courier Service. His unique Security Clearance allowed him to go directly into service in Japan where he was able to have his family accompany him. He spent his time carrying Top Secret and above material all overseas and to the USA, (On one occasion he was sent as the only passenger on an aircraft with a package directed for the Secretary of State in DC).

Upon retiring from the military, he started a career with the USPS that was interrupted by a heart attack after 13 years. Not one to sit around, he took over the Mossy Head Water System that had been shut down by DEP. With one well and two round tanks, a customer base of around 800 and 8 fire hydrants, he first implemented the return to operation by fulfilling all of DEP requirements, then almost 28 years later he left the system with 3 deep wells, three high rise shortage tanks capable of holding over 200k of water per tank, over 1,300 fire hydrants, and a huge office/maintenance complex, plus over $800K in surplus funds. All debts were paid in full except the two newest deep wells. During this job he worked as an unpaid volunteer for over 19 of the 28 years.

There were numerous other accomplishments over his time in Walton County, including for over 20 years at election time, Tom and his wife Joyce would hold Town Hall meetings with all candidates for offices in the county invited to come, meet voters, answer questions and present their platforms. The Terrells always provided lunches for attendees and speakers, all cost incurred were totally paid by the Terrells. Tom served on the County Planning Commission for 11 years, 9 of those as Chairman, he served on the WCTPA during its beginning, he and two other community center board members lobbied the state legislator for funds to renovate the center and received a grant for $18k for the first renovation to the community center. He served a tour as fire chief for the volunteer fire department and was always a strong advocate for a paid Fire Department, which came into being a few years later.

As a member of First Baptist Church of Mossy Head, Florida, he served as Deacon, then Deacon Emiratis. He taught the Senior Men's Sunday School class for forty years and shared his savior Jesus Christ with those around him.

A time of visitation will be held from 2:00 – 3:00 PM, Monday, January 19, 2026 at Clary-Glenn Funeral Home; 230 Park Avenue, DeFuniak Springs, Florida 32435.

Funeral Services will be held at 3:00 PM, Monday, January 19, 2026 at Clary-Glenn Funeral Home with Reverend Joel Glenn officiating and Military honors by the United States Air Force.

In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made to First Baptist Church of Mossy Head at https://give.tithe.ly/?formId=81 or mailed to 92 Hinote Rd, DeFuniak Springs, FL 32433.

Graveside services will be held 10:00 AM, Tuesday, January 20, 2026 at Barrancas National Cemetery in Pensacola, Florida.