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'''Bill Terry Jr''' (born c. [[1949]]; died [[July 3]], [[1969]] in Vietnam) was an American soldier in the [[Vietnam War]] and the first African American to be buried at [[Elmwood Cemetery]].
[[File:Bill Terry Jr.jpg|right|thumb|Bill Terry Jr]]
'''William Henry Terry Jr''' (born [[February 23]], [[1949]]; died [[July 3]], [[1969]] in Vietnam) was an American soldier in the [[Vietnam War]] and the first African American to be buried at [[Elmwood Cemetery]].


The oldest of nine children, Terry was fascinated by cars and planned to become an auto mechanic. He was drafted into the army before finishing high school and quickly married his girlfriend before reporting. During the war he threw himself on a grenade to save the lives of fellow soldiers. His wife later gave birth to a son he never met.
The oldest of nine children of Bill and Jimmie Lee Terry, Bill Jr was fascinated by cars and planned to become an auto mechanic. He was drafted into the army before finishing high school and quickly married his girlfriend before reporting. He told his family that he wished to be buried at Elmwood if he died in the service. He repeated that wish in a letter home from Vietnam. During the war he served in a combat platoon. On July 3, 1969 in the Long Khanh province, Terry threw himself on a grenade to save the lives of fellow soldiers, and was posthumously promoted to the rank of corporal. His wife, Margaret, later gave birth to a son, Patrick, whom he never met.


Terry had requested burial at Elmwood in order to be close to his family in [[Titusville]]. When the cemetery's owners refused to allow it, the family filed a lawsuit in federal court. As the trial proceeded, the [[Ku Klux Klan]] attempted to intimidate the family by making threatening calls, burning a cross in their yard, and vandalizing Terry's headstone at [[Shadow Lawn Cemetery]]. Neighbors rose to their defense, other Elmwood plot owners offered to donate a burial place, and [[Eugene Ferrell]], the white pastor of the primarily black [[Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church]] led marches in Birmingham and Washington D.C. supporting Terry.
Terry had requested burial at Elmwood in order to be close to his family in [[Titusville]]. When the cemetery's owners refused to allow it, the family filed a lawsuit in federal court. As the trial proceeded, the [[Ku Klux Klan]] attempted to intimidate the family by making threatening calls, burning a cross in their yard, and vandalizing Terry's headstone at [[Shadow Lawn Cemetery]]. Neighbors rose to their defense, other Elmwood plot owners offered to donate a burial place.


Judge [[Seybourne Lynne]] ruled that "Elmwood was legally obligated to sell burial plots in its public cemetery to all United States citizens, on equal terms, without regard to race or color." and on [[January 3]], [[1970]] Terry's casket was moved to Elmwood. His parents and sister are now buried nearby.
[[Eugene Ferrell]], the white pastor of the primarily black [[Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church]] led marches in Birmingham and Washington D.C. supporting Terry, and helped the family connect with the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund and attorney [[Oscar Adams]] to file suit against the cemetery's owners.
 
Judge [[Seybourn Lynne]] ruled that "Elmwood was legally obligated to sell burial plots in its public cemetery to all United States citizens, on equal terms, without regard to race or color." Terry's family was awarded $10,000 in damages and $2,000 to cover attorneys' fees and the cost of re-interring him. and on [[January 3]], [[1970]] Terry's casket was moved to Elmwood. His parents and sister are now buried nearby.


On Memorial Day weekend in [[2009]] [[Birmingham City Council]] member [[Carol Duncan]] organized a ceremony honoring Terry's memory at the request of a family friend. The ceremony took place at the [[Alabama Veterans Memorial]].
On Memorial Day weekend in [[2009]] [[Birmingham City Council]] member [[Carol Duncan]] organized a ceremony honoring Terry's memory at the request of a family friend. The ceremony took place at the [[Alabama Veterans Memorial]].


==References==
==References==
* "Black Soldier Denied Burial in Hometown White Cemetery" (August 14, 1969) {{BT}}
* Wooten, James T. (January 4, 1970) ''Black Soldier Buried Among Whites.'' ''The New York Times'', p. 57
* "Over 1,000 Present" (January 4, 1970) ''The Los Angeles Times'', p. 11
* Murphy, David (December 2001) "Discrimination Among the Dead: A Narrative and Contextual Analysis of Bill Terry’s Integration of Elmwood Cemetery." Unpublished research paper. Samford University
* Stock, Erin (May 25, 2009) "Birmingham, Alabama City Council honors Bill Terry Jr., who was buried in Elmwood Cemetery after civil rights court case." {{BN}}
* Stock, Erin (May 25, 2009) "Birmingham, Alabama City Council honors Bill Terry Jr., who was buried in Elmwood Cemetery after civil rights court case." {{BN}}
* Crenshaw, Solomon Jr (February 26, 2022) "Killed in War, Bill Terry Jr. Was First Black Buried in Birmingham’s Elmwood Cemetery." [[Alabama NewsCenter]]/{{BT}}
* Crenshaw, Solomon Jr (May 2022) "[https://ironcity.ink/faces/breaking-the-color-line-in-death-a-black-alabama-soldier-was/ Breaking the Color Line in Death: A Black Alabama soldier was killed in Vietnam, then broke the color line at Elmwood Cemetery]" ''[[Iron City Ink]]''
==External links==
* [https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/6679561/bill-henry-terry CPL Bill Henry Terry Jr.] at Findagrave.com


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Latest revision as of 14:20, 30 April 2022

Bill Terry Jr

William Henry Terry Jr (born February 23, 1949; died July 3, 1969 in Vietnam) was an American soldier in the Vietnam War and the first African American to be buried at Elmwood Cemetery.

The oldest of nine children of Bill and Jimmie Lee Terry, Bill Jr was fascinated by cars and planned to become an auto mechanic. He was drafted into the army before finishing high school and quickly married his girlfriend before reporting. He told his family that he wished to be buried at Elmwood if he died in the service. He repeated that wish in a letter home from Vietnam. During the war he served in a combat platoon. On July 3, 1969 in the Long Khanh province, Terry threw himself on a grenade to save the lives of fellow soldiers, and was posthumously promoted to the rank of corporal. His wife, Margaret, later gave birth to a son, Patrick, whom he never met.

Terry had requested burial at Elmwood in order to be close to his family in Titusville. When the cemetery's owners refused to allow it, the family filed a lawsuit in federal court. As the trial proceeded, the Ku Klux Klan attempted to intimidate the family by making threatening calls, burning a cross in their yard, and vandalizing Terry's headstone at Shadow Lawn Cemetery. Neighbors rose to their defense, other Elmwood plot owners offered to donate a burial place.

Eugene Ferrell, the white pastor of the primarily black Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church led marches in Birmingham and Washington D.C. supporting Terry, and helped the family connect with the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund and attorney Oscar Adams to file suit against the cemetery's owners.

Judge Seybourn Lynne ruled that "Elmwood was legally obligated to sell burial plots in its public cemetery to all United States citizens, on equal terms, without regard to race or color." Terry's family was awarded $10,000 in damages and $2,000 to cover attorneys' fees and the cost of re-interring him. and on January 3, 1970 Terry's casket was moved to Elmwood. His parents and sister are now buried nearby.

On Memorial Day weekend in 2009 Birmingham City Council member Carol Duncan organized a ceremony honoring Terry's memory at the request of a family friend. The ceremony took place at the Alabama Veterans Memorial.

References

External links

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