Bonnie Zette Callahan Terry

BONNIE ‘ZETTE', 'OTHER MOTHER', 'MIMI', CALLAHAN TERRY was born on the family plantation in the surrounding countryside of Mathiston, in Chickasaw County, Mississippi, on January 7th, to Doda Pearl Bell Callahan and Clyde Anderson Callahan, Sr. Her life was a beautiful love gift of God, from God, for God. Having died with her precious Risen LORD Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, Bonnie Zette knew that her Redeemer liveth. She returned to live with Him and our loving Father, for all eternity, on August 29, 2018.

Reared in Houston, Mississippi, Bonnie Zette lost her mother, at the tender age of 6. Being the oldest daughter of five children, she became a young ‘matriarch’, helping her widowed father care for her beloved, young siblings. When he remarried, she was given the gift of her baby sister, Liz, “her Sissy”. By the Grace of God, Bonnie Zette thrived and became that of which true grit is made: a beautiful, steel magnolia.

Bonnie Zette graduated from Woodland High School in Chickasaw County, where she was crowned “Miss Woodland High”. She later attended the University of Mississippi, in Oxford, pursuing pharmaceutical studies. Bonnie Zette married her college sweetheart, Ira James “Red”, “I.J.”,”Big Daddy” Terry, Sr. in Starkville, Mississippi, on March 26th, 1945. They enjoyed 57 years of marriage, mostly lived in Shreveport, Louisiana. During her blessed life, she was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, great great grandmother, sister, aunt, cousin and steadfast friend. Bonnie Zette was gracious, tenacious, courageous, adventuresome, forgiving, ever grateful, humble and fun. She had a twinkle in her eyes and an ever present smile.

While living in Shreveport, Bonnie Zette was a pharmacist at Lakeshore Drug for many years, later becoming a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor for the state of Louisiana. She also volunteered at Live Oak Retirement Community, as well as, Amazing Place in Houston, Texas. An avid lover of plants, she coveted winning “Garden of the Month”; yet always thanked God for giving the sun, the rain and the seed.

Often heard saying: “I just love people”, Bonnie Zette sought opportunities and environments to expend her boundless energy, limitless love and compassion for so many. Whether a senior, child or animal, she would adopt you on the spot, feed you, hug you, help you….then hug you some more. The world was her family. Dancing with her grandchildren down the Champs Elysee, laughing with her “best friend” or relishing a slice of pecan pie, Bonnie Zette loved life and had a zest for it. A “good visit” was a most treasured present.

Her life was an example of kindness, generosity and sacrifice. Never thinking of herself, Bonnie Zette did not know the meaning of “selfie”. Her heart was for Christ and His Light within her, shone brightly on this earth. She saw His Wonder in everything. In soft southern manner, her farewells always ended with “I love you, darlin’ or hon’.

A Christian, Bonnie Zette lived her faith, not only at home but everywhere. She was an active member of several churches during her lifetime, from tiny to large and upon moving to Houston, was confirmed into the Anglican Communion by the Bishop of Texas, Andrew Doyle. She deeply cherished and loved the Body of Christ at St. John the Divine.

She is preceded in death by her beloved husband Ira and survived by her beloved “Sissy” Liz Cole, of Brandon, Ms., family and extended family: Daughters Sherry Pendley and son-in-law, Carl, of Shreveport, La., Paula Terry Douglass of Houston, Texas; I. J. “Jason” Terry, Jr. and daughter-in-law, Susan, of Savannah, Ga., Grandchildren: Ira James Terry, III of Raleigh, N.C., Jonathan Blake Terry of Atlanta, Ga., Christian Griffin Pendley of Houston, Tx., James Carl Pendley,II of Shreveport, La., Paula Diane Pendley of Santa Monica, Ca., Sam Preston Douglass, Jr. of Corpus Christi and Brooke Douglass Graubart of Houston, Tx. Great Grandchildren: Lauren ElizabethTerry and Ira James Terry, IV, of Raleigh, N.C., Isby Terry of Atlanta, Ga., Eleanor Pendley and Palmer Pendley of Shreveport, La., Preston Pendley and Emily Douglass Murdock of Houston, Tx. Sam Preston Douglass, III, of San Antonio, Tx., Sarah Parke Douglass of New York, N.Y., Treva Grace Graubart of Ft. Worth, Tx. Great, great granddaughter: Annabelle “Annie” Preston Murdock of Houston, Texas. Beloved Godchildren: Jennifer Malcolm Lauscha of New Orleans, La. and Shelley Malcolm of Atlanta, Ga., numerous Callahan and Terry nieces, nephews and cousins. Special friends, Molly Alonso, Esperanza Tocora, Ruth, Fatima, Brianna, Tracey and Derek Giron, Olga Bernal and Maria; Celia Gonzalez , Alberto Aburto. Clare Malcolm, Judy Bouchard, Virginia Stuller, Linda Henly, Pat Berry, Devera Allday, Pauline Higgins, the Reverends, Larry Hall, Doug Richnow, Clay Lein, Reagan Cocke, Louise Samuelson, Matt Marino and all the prayer warriors of St. John the Divine. She leaves behind faithful and true companions to the end and beyond: Emma Cate, Samantha and Beau Jaune and joins, Chi Chi, Butch, Bronson, Neils Bentsen, Tara, September, Boudreau and Bruno.

Pallbearers will be: Sam Preston Douglass, III; Ira James Terry, III; Jonathan Blake Terry; Christian Griffin Pendley; James Carl Pendley; Alberto Aburto and her “boys” Richard Steven Smith; Ronald Lee Irvin; William Ferol Gibson and Jeffrey Lee Crain.

Friends are invited to a Prayer Vigil on the Holy Campus of St. John the Divine in the Chapel, 2450 River Oaks Boulevard in Houston, at two o’clock in the afternoon on Thursday, the 6th of September. Following the Prayer Vigil, all are invited to the Holy Rite of Burial in the Sanctuary of St. John the Divine beginning at three o’clock in the afternoon, where the Rev. Dr. Clay A. Lein, Rector, and the Rev. Louise Samuelson, will officiate.

The Rite of Holy Committal will be held at half-past one o’clock in the afternoon on Friday, the 7th of September, at Forest Park Cemetery West, 4000 Meriwether Road in Shreveport Louisiana, with the Rev. Dr. Clay A. Lein, officiating.

The family wishes to thank Dr. Gustavo Roman, Methodist Neurology; Dr.Susan A. Williams and Dr. Cora Sharfman, of Baylor Geriatrics, Baylor College of Medicine for their dedicated years of loving care and compassion.In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. John the Divine, LORD of the Streets or Amazing Place, in Houston, Texas. The Terry family has also enjoyed a long-standing and great love of music. Memorials may also be made to The Children's Outreach of The Shreveport Symphony or The Shreveport-Bossier Opera.

Bonnie Zette Callahan Terry, lived a life embodying the The Great Commandment of GOD: LOVE.

“You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your strength….these Words shall be in your heart and you shall teach them diligently to your children and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down and when you rise up….This is the first and great commandment….and the second , like it, is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these.”

Deuteronomy 6:4-7; Matthew 22:37-40; Mark 12:30-31; Luke 10:27; 1 Corinthians 13