William Paul Terrell, 82, of Beaumont died April 4, 2005 at his residence. Born on August 11, 1922 in Elizabeth, Louisiana to Wiley Pleasant and Siddia Lenora Smith Terrell, he was a lifelong resident of the area and owner of William P. Terrell, Inc., a builder and developer in Beaumont for over fifty years. He served his country proudly in the United States Army during World War II and the Korean Conflict. Bill was a faithful member of North End Baptist Church where he taught the Men’s Friendship Sunday School Class for many years and served as a Deacon. He was a member of the National Association of Home Builders and the Sabine Area Builders Association. Over the years he helped start and build 11th Street Baptist Church and Baptist Temple in Beaumont.
After he purchased a ranch in Spurger he served the Lord at First Baptist Church of Spurger as a Deacon and teacher of the Senior Adult Men’s Sunday School Class for many years. When the family sold the ranch he and Jimmie moved their membership to North End Baptist in Beaumont where he continued to serve the Lord as a Deacon and a Sunday School teacher. He was very proud of all the ministries at North End but especially the Prayer Ministry.
Building was his life dream and horses and cattle where his hobby and passion. Bill was a breeder of Appaloosa horses. He raised, trained and worked cattle on the back of Appaloosas. In 1968 he bought 325+ acres of east Texas woods and carved out and built a successful cattle and horse ranch. When Bill left Spurger he moved his ranch to land he bought west of Beaumont where his daughter Debbie and her family still work the ranch.
He is survived by his loving wife of sixty-one years, Jimmie J. Barefield Terrell of Beaumont; daughter, Debbie Riley and her husband James of Beaumont; sister-in-law, Louise Fulton of Mississippi; grandchildren, Christy Cowart and her husband John of Nacogdoches, Devin Riley, Cortney Riley and Kent Riley all of Beaumont; great grandson, Eli Cowart of Nacogdoches; numerous nieces and nephews across the United States. Bill is preceded in death by his parents, Wiley and Siddia Terrell, sons, Frank and William “Billy” Terrell; sisters, Dorothy Basye, Lona Mae May and Terry Bond; sisters-in-law, Christine and Elgie Barefield and brother-in-laws, Everett Bond, John Basye, Herman Fulton, Edgar V. Barefield and Ben Barefield.
Funeral services will be 2:00 pm Thursday, April 7, 2005 at North End Baptist Church under the direction of Broussard’s, 1605 North Major Drive, Beaumont followed by burial at Memory Gardens Cemetery in Nederland. A gathering of family and friends will be Wednesday evening from 6:00 pm until 8:00 pm at the mortuary.
The family would like to give a special thank you to Texas Total Home Health, who helped to make the last few years of his life “a little better”, and especially Jennifer Turner and Sarah Tillman.
Memorial contributions may be made to North End Baptist Church, 5115 Eastex Freeway, Beaumont, Texas 77706.
