Terri was born and raised in Michigan, then attended Bob Jones University. There, she met her life's love, George Koontz. After graduation, they married and moved to Pennsylvania where their three children, Joel, Stephanie, and Amanda, were born. Work brought them back to Greenville in the early '90s.
Terri was a gifted administrator and worked for many years as the secretary at Redeemer Presbyterian Church, where she also led women's Bible studies. Always curious, Terri loved reading, trying new recipes, traveling, and crafting (Christmas the year she discovered Pinterest was a sight to behold). She had a keen eye for beauty and found joy in gardening, birdwatching, and exploring nature. She delighted in creating an inviting, comfortable home, and she often had others over to share a meal or a cup of coffee.
Terri loved people, and over the years, she counseled, consoled, encouraged, and mentored many, always modeling true compassion, empathy, and love. Her sense of humor and zest for life brought light and laughter to everyone she met, and she was respected for her candor, wisdom, wit, generosity, and kindness. She made the best birthday cakes and spoiled her grand babies rotten. She was beautiful but not haughty, smart but not prideful, energetic but not restless. Even through her rapid decline in health as a result of a brain tumor, she maintained her deep faith in God's sovereignty and grace, and she suffered with dignity despite the ordeals she faced in her last months. Terri would willingly admit that she was needy and broken, and her gratitude and love for Jesus grew stronger as she lived her life in reliance on him. Glorifying him was her life's aim, and she hoped her death, too, would point many to Jesus. "Jesus said to her, 'I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?' She said to him, 'Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.'" -John 11:25-26
Terri was preceded in death by her mother, Mary Jeffery, and brother, Bob Jeffery. She is survived by her husband, George Koontz of Greenville, SC, son and daughter-in-law, Joel and Jessica Koontz of Chattanooga, TN, daughter and son-in-law, Stephanie and Ben Horne of Greenville, SC, and daughter and soon-to-be son-in-law, Amanda Koontz and Mike Tarr of Taylors, SC. She is also survived by grandchildren Claire and Emmett Koontz and Evan Horne; father, Allan Jeffery of Greenville, SC, sister, Cynthia (and Doug) Thomas, brother, Chuck (and Sharon) Jeffery; ten nephews and nieces and their spouses; and multiple great-nieces and great-nephews.
A visitation will be held Tuesday, January 24, from 6-8 p.m at Mackey Mortuary. A memorial service will be held Wednesday, January 25, at 11 a.m. at Redeemer Presbyterian Church.
Memorial gifts may be made to Augustine Literacy Project of the Upstate (augustineproject-upstatesc.org).
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