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AHOSKIE – She worked for what appears to be a lifetime.

And she has a lifetime of memories to show for that effort.

When the 2023-24 school year ended recently, so did Julie Terry’s career as a teacher and a counselor. Over a span of 50 years and six months, Terry offered love and guidance for local schoolchildren as well as lending an ear for her educational colleagues to share their triumphs and challenges.

“I’m just thankful to have worked all these years,” said Terry who ended her career at Bearfield Primary School where she served as a counselor since its opening in 1999.

“I loved working with children, parents, and staff. I had supportive principals along the way. I had a wonderful career,” she added.

A native of Bertie County and a 1970 graduate of Ahoskie High School, Terry earned a Bachelor of Science degree in

Intermediate Education in 1973 from East Carolina University. She was a student teacher at C.G. White
Elementary School in Powellsville before landing her first real job as a reading teacher (4^th and 5^th grades) at W.S. Etheridge Elementary in Windsor. She left there for a similar position at Windsor Elementary School.

“It was at that stage of my career that I got interested in counseling,” Terry recalled.

That led Terry to further her education where she earned a Masters in Counseling from ECU in 1978. One year later she was hired as a counselor at Roanoke Rapids High School.

She returned home three years later to take a job as a Job Placement / Drop Out Prevention counselor at Bertie High School.

In 1983, the same year she married Garry Terry, she accepted a counseling job with Hertford County Public Schools.

“I’ve been with them since that time,” said Terry, adding that she worked at Ahoskie Elementary School and R.L. Vann School before joining the staff at Bearfield Primary.

“I’ve had the opportunity to work with children all these years,” she continued. “I wouldn’t change a thing.

“To be honest, I really didn’t plan to work past 30 years,” Terry continued. “But when I reached that stage of my career I just wasn’t ready to retire.”

Along the way, Terry also served in other capacities as a Trustee at Roanoke-Chowan Community College and on the board of the North Carolina Center for Advancement of Teaching.

Last month, Garry Terry put together a plan to surprise his wife with a retirement party at Golden Skillet.

“This was a huge surprise for Julie. We’ve been working on this for quite a while,” noted Mr. Terry. “The hard job was keeping it secret so Julie wouldn’t find what was being planned.”

Mike Causey, North Carolina’s Commissioner of Insurance, attended the retirement party and presented Julie Terry with the highest award given by his office, the Order of the Guardian.

“I normally give this to fire chiefs and law enforcement officers, but it’s not often that I get to meet people with more than 50 years in education,” stated Causey. “This award is in recognition of your character, your integrity, and your many, many years of outstanding service to the state of North Carolina. I am so honored to be here tonight and personally thank Julie Terry.”

“I’m overwhelmed by this,” Julie Terry remarked. “Thank you so much. It means so much to see all of you here. I appreciate each and every one of you for taking the time to come out. I’ve had a great career, but the time has come to retire, something I’m looking forward to.”

As part of the retirement party, Garry Terry had the idea of a suggestion box. He left blank cards at each table for those in attendance to fill out and give his wife some suggestions of what to do in retirement. Some of the suggestions are as follows:

Do what you enjoy and do it when you want to.

Enjoy your free time….it will take your time.

Take up a new hobby.

Do something you always wanted to do.

Enjoy late nights and late mornings.

Rest, rest and rest!

You next chapter is beginning, you’ve been a blessing to so many.

Today is a present from God….treasure it!

Sleep in!

Visit friends.

Take time for yourself.

Travel.

Volunteer.

Have a happy life.

Enjoy, relax and rest.

Terry said her immediate plans are to finish some overdue projects around her home.

“After working for 50 years, I’ve got a lot of catching up to do. Right now I’m just taking it one day at the time. Whatever is right for that day, that’s what I’ll do,” she closed.