Paul Terrell Obituary

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Our Uncle Paul entered eternal rest on September 5, 2025, at the age of 92 at Coral Harbor Rehabilitation Center in Neptune City, following a month-long stay at Jersey Shore University Medical Center,

Our Uncle Paul was born on April 17, 1933, in rural Williamson County, TN near the town of Franklin. He grew up in a close-knit community where faith, family, and perseverance shaped his character. As a young boy, he developed a love for baseball, a sport in which he excelled throughout his school years. He attended Pearl High School in Nashville, where he proudly played on the baseball team. Though he originally trained as a shortstop, he often shared how his best friend claimed that position, and he took up third base instead. The two remained teammates, later playing semi-professional baseball together around Nashville. Those years not only showcased his athletic ability but also reflected the loyalty and humility that would define his life.

Our Uncle Paul went on to attend Tennessee State A&l College (now Tennessee State

University) before being drafted into the United States Army in 1953 during the Korean War. He completed Basic Training at Fort Gordon, Georgia, before transferring to Fort

Monmouth, New Jersey, for advanced training in teletype maintenance and repair. He later deployed overseas, serving for more than a year in Korea as a telephone repairman, ensuring that critical Lines of communication remained operational under difficult conditions. He was honorably discharged in 1955, carrying with him the values of discipline, precision, and commitment to others that would guide him throughout his life.

Our Uncle Paul then began what would become a long and respected career at Fitkins

Hospital (now Jersey Shore University Medical Center). Rising to the role of Manager of Laundry Services, he oversaw operations that directly impacted patient care and hospital efficiency. Colleagues remembered him as a fair and steady leader who valued hard work and treated everyone with dignity. More than a manager, Paul was a mentor and advocate, a strong proponent of advancing his people and ensuring they had opportunities to grow. His commitment to lifting others up inside the hospital mirrored the way he served in the church: leading with humility, encouraging others to rise to their potential, and using his position not for himself but for the betterment of those around him. In both his career and his ministry, he left behind a legacy of service, empowerment, and grace.

On September 16, 1955, Paul married the love of his life, Essie L. Robie, beginning a 67year union grounded in faith, devotion, and service until her passing in 2023.

Though Paul and Essie were not blessed with children of their own, they embraced their role as spiritual parents to many. Known as "Uncle Paul" to all and "Pop Pop" to some, he became a father figure and mentor across generations. He plaited and braided hair, picked children up from school, dropped them off again, and celebrated their graduations at every stage of life. He offered wise and timely advice, helped straighten out crooked paths, and rejoiced at every successful arrival. His love was expressed not only in words, but through every day acts of care and presence that left lasting impressions on all who knew him.

Our Uncle Paul's faith was the cornerstone of his life. He devoted decades of service to Mt. Pisgah Baptist Temple, where he served faithfully as a Deacon, Trustee, and Sunday

School Teacher. His rich tenor voice uplifted hearts as a member of the Clear View and Seacoast Revival Mass Choirs along with the Mt. Pisgah Gospel and Men's Choruses. His ministry, leadership, and devotion left a lasting mark on his church and community.

He is survived by his extended family - the Terrells, Scruggs, and Robie family - along with his devoted nephew and caretaker, Albert F. (Byrd) Moore, and many beloved nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, Paul Sr. and Mary Edna Terrell, his sister Samella Terrell, and his beloved wife, Dr. Essie L. Terrell.

Our Uncle Paul, from the baseball fields of Tennessee to the battlefields of Korea, from the hospital halls of Fitkins to the choirs and pews of Mt. Pisgah where he lifted his voice in praise, lived a life marked by humility, strength, and faith. We rejoice that he is now reunited with his beloved Essie and celebrate the eternal reward of a life well lived.