Donnis Jalaine Bagwell Terry, age 71, of Suwanee, GA passed away on March 8, 2013, after a brief illness.
A life-long Gwinnett County resident, Mrs. Terry taught business education and keyboarding at North Gwinnett High School, retiring in 2000 after 39 years. Mrs. Terry graduated from Georgia State College for Women in Milledgeville in 1961 and was valedictorian of Sugar Hill High School's last graduating class. She attained Master's and Specialist's degrees in Education from Georgia College. A pioneer in women's rights in Gwinnett County, her sex-discrimination suit against the Gwinnett County Board of Education in 1974, was the impetus for the development of a maternity leave policy; prior to this change, pregnant teachers were terminated and had to reapply for their jobs. Mrs. Terry was a member of Shadowbrook Baptist Church in Suwanee, a volunteer for Samaritan's Purse Operation Christmas Child, and a member of the Georgia Association of Educators' State Spelling Bee committee.
Mrs. Terry was preceded in death by her father, Woodrow Bagwell.
She is survived by her husband of fifty years, Edwin Terry Suwanee, GA; daughters and sons-in-law, Dr. Carol Terry, Suwanee, GA, Brenda and Bill Petty, Homer, GA and April and Mike Gann, Buford, GA; grandchildren, Helen Petty, Bryan Petty, Abby Gann and Jesse Gann; mother, Helen Pass Bagwell, Sugar Hill, GA; sisters and brother-in-law, Linda and Jerry Lynn, Sugar Hill, GA and Frankie Bagwell, Sugar Hill, GA; sisters-in-law, Peggy Brogdon Terry, Suwanee, GA, Bernice Terry Puckett, Suwanee, GA and Kathleen Bruce Terry, Suwanee, GA; and several aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins.
Funeral services will be held on Monday, March 11, 2013 at 2:00 p.m. in the Chapel of Flanigan Funeral Home with Rev. Bobby Linkous officiating and the eulogy given by Dr. Carol Terry.
Interment will follow at White Chapel Memorial Gardens in Duluth, GA.
The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Sunday from 2:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Samaritan's Purse Operation Christmas Child, P.O. Box 3000, Boone, NC 28607-3000 in memory of Donnis Terry.
To express condolences, please sign our online guest book at www.flaniganfuneralhome.com. Arrangements by: Junior E. Flanigan of Flanigan Funeral Home and Crematory, Buford, GA, 770-932-1133.
