William Lamar Terrell

William Lamar Terrell was born to Leathie and W.J. Terrell on October 11, 1932 in Carrollton, Georgia. The family, including his two brothers, James and Harold, moved to Savannah a few years later.

He married Alva Lee Donaldson on June 12, 1954 while enlisted as a corporal in the United States Army. His daughter Linda was born on November 18, 1955. His daughter Brenda was born on December 27, 1956. His son, William Joseph, was born on June 1, 1962.

Lamar, as he was known, worked for Union Camp Paper Corporation, now known as International Paper, from 1952 until he retired in 1994. Throughout these years of working and raising a family, Lamar preached. He answered the call the Lord placed on his life by preaching on the weekends and running short revivals. He loved the Word of God and loved small churches.

One daughter recalls, "I remember going to small country churches where Daddy would teach Sunday School for the kids and then preach. He would boil an egg very slowly the night before and pop it out of a jar at the end of a triumphant story of Jonah coming up out of the whale. Having seen this many times and even knowing how it worked, my Daddy made the story come so alive that I would sit spellbound and audibly catch my breath when Jonah the egg came forth, just like all of the other children. I can still see and hear him singing, 'Come, listen to my tale, of Jonah and the whale...'

Another daughter remembers his favorite things to share with anyone he met, was how he had the privilege to perform the wedding ceremonies of his daughter, Brenda to Chris, his granddaughter Lindsey to Kricket, his grandson, Christopher to Lauren, and his granddaughter, Kimberly to Trevor.

Brother Lamar impacted the lives of hundreds of people he preached to, served with, and visited in the hospital. Known as a praying man and a student of the Bible, he served as the associate pastor of the Sanctuary Church. He retired from his job and went wholeheartedly into the work he loved; preaching, praying, singing, leading in worship, working at the church, visiting the sick, and uniting couples in marriage.

Lamar's last words and thoughts were of his family and the Lord he loved. He went to be with the Lord on November 2, 2016. His family rejoices in knowing that he is living in joyous rapture with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and that they will in fact see him and be with him again.

The family will recieve friends at the Baker-McCullough Funeral Home, Bonaventure Chapel, Thursday, November 3, 2016 from 6 to 8 pm. The funeral service will be held at the Sanctuary Church on Friday, November 4, 2016 at 11 am. Interment will follow in Forest Lawn Memory Gardens.