It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of William Terrell “Terry” Wingfield ’51 into Chapter Eternal. We want to extend our deepest sympathies to William’s family, friends, and loved ones. View his obituary below.
Source Courtesy of Athens Banner-Herald
William Terrell “Terry” Wingfield, 92, of Athens, Georgia died peacefully on Thursday, August 26, 2021, surrounded by his family.
Terry, the youngest son of the late Middleton Barnett Wingfield and Lura May Kenimer Wingfield, was born on February 12, 1929 in Athens. He attended Barrow Elementary School and graduated from Athens High School, where he was alternate captain of the football team and active in several school organizations. Terry attended the University of Georgia, where he was a member of the Kappa Alpha Order fraternity. He became active in his father’s insurance and mortgage loan business during college and, upon graduation, took over the business. Also while at UGA, Terry met the love of his life, the late Joy Wilkes Wingfield from Atlanta, and they were married in 1951.
In 1971, Terry sold the business and joined the Frances Wood Wilson Foundation in Decatur, Georgia, as Trustee. Terry was named Chairman of the Foundation in 1991, a position he held until his retirement in 2014. During his tenure, the Foundation awarded more than $40 million in grants to worthy charitable organizations, many of which were based in his beloved Athens.
Terry participated with his many friends in social, charitable and philanthropic activities, including the Athens City Club, the Athens YMCA, the Touchdown Club of Athens, the Robert W. Woodruff Art Center, the Georgia Student Educational Foundation, the Athens Country Club, the Gridiron Secret Society and Athens First United Methodist Church. He was a friend to multiple generations of Athenians and was considered an adopted father and grandfather to many.
Terry’s legacy is remembered by his sons, William Terrell “Terry” Wingfield Jr. and his wife Fran Sanderson Wingfield of Athens, and Milton Wilkes “Chip” Wingfield of Bethlehem; his grandchildren, William Terrell Wingfield Ill and his wife Sarah Elizabeth Wingfield of Carmel, IN, John Callaway Wingfield and his wife Martha Fay Wingfield of Athens, and Allison Wingfield Betts and her husband, Robert H. Betts of Atlanta; and his two great-grandchildren, Anna Louise Wingfield and Julia Joy Wingfield of Carmel, IN. Also surviving Terry are his two loving and dedicated caregivers, Keke Powers and Theresa Rawls, who brought him so much comfort during the final few years of his life.
Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m., on Thursday, September 2, 2021, at Athens First United Methodist Church, followed by a reception at the Athens Country Club from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Burial in Oconee Hill Cemetery will be held privately.
Please, in lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that donations be made to the Friends of Oconee Hill Cemetery Inc., P.O. Box 49219, Athens, GA 30604 to fund the beautification of the Wingfield Chapel, or Athens First United Methodist Church, 327 N. Lumpkin St., Athens, GA 30601.