Terry Hilliard

Terry Kaye Hilliard was born on April 28, 1956 in Odessa, Texas. She was ushered into the arms of her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ on March 23, 2020, at her residence in Lubbock, Texas, at the age of 63 years. She was shockingly taken from us as a result of an aggressive cancer diagnosed on February 17. Terry was a faithful and loving pastor’s wife at Quaker Avenue Missionary Baptist Church of Lubbock, serving tirelessly in a multitude of positions for 33 years. Terry was the daughter of J.T. and Virginia Sue Horn, of Odessa. She was a graduate of Permian High School in Odessa. She attended Odessa College for one semester before her engagement and subsequent marriage to Monty Hilliard, also of Odessa. The elopement marriage took place in Monahans, Texas, on September 17, 1974. The couple enjoyed 45 wonderful years together and were blessed to complete their family with four children, which she singlehandedly Home Schooled each child from Kindergarten through High School graduation, a span 25 years. Terry attended Oklahoma Missionary Baptist College and Seminary in Marlow, Oklahoma, along with her husband in 1977-1980, logging over 120 credit hours, just short a Bachelor Degree.

Terry spent almost her entire marriage as a minister’s wife serving in a multitude of positions including Youth ministry, Music ministry, Children’s ministry Director/Teacher, Gospel tract writer, Sunday School Curriculum  writer, Bible teaching ministry, Ladies Auxiliary, Vacation Bible School Director, Ladies Retreat Speaker, and several terms as President/Vice President of the Southwest Association of Missionary Baptist churches and the Missionary Baptist Association of Texas Ladies Auxiliary. Terry attended Faith Bible Institute 1998-2001 and was awarded a Bible College Diploma.  After her Home School teaching career, Terry turned her attention to serving the Lord in an even greater capacity through ministry to children. She was heavily involved with Child Evangelism Fellowship, (CEF), a world-wide organization dedicated to reaching children with the Gospel of Jesus Christ through neighborhood back yard Bible clubs and after school programs. Terry helped to organize several “Good News Clubs” in the Lubbock area. She enrolled in an Advanced Teacher Training at the CEF in Warrenton, Missouri in 2019, and received a Certificate of Excellence. She then served as an instructor with CEF seminars.

In 2018, Terry attended the opening of an orphanage in India in honor of her mother, Virginia Horn, sponsored by Angel House, and funded by Terry and her siblings. It was then Terry determined to help the plight of the more than 31 million orphaned Indian children by personally raising funds to build an orphanage each year for the rest of her life. After much prayer, she was led to become a consultant with an environmental company known as Norwex. She established a Facebook page, called, Terry’s Safe Haven VIP” where she demonstrated and sold cleaning products. Along with the generous help and support of many family members and friends $32,000 was raised and her first orphanage was built and occupied by 12 children in June of 2019. She immediately began to raise funds for the second orphanage using the same means as the first. She was blessed to have raised more than $40,000 thousand dollars this past year, enough to house 24 children. Her second orphanage is scheduled to be ready in June 2020. Terry was known for her bright smile and glowing countenance, which warmed the hearts of all who knew her. Her delight was to honor Christ and to share the Gospel with everyone she possibly could, especially children. She was adored by her loving family and by her church family at QABC. She has left a great legacy of godliness, kindness, selflessness and service.

'Terry is survived by her husband, Monty, her 4 children: Chad Hilliard and wife, Ashley, of Round Rock, Texas; Cory Hilliard and wife, Sarah, of Lubbock, Amber Davis and husband, Joe, of Lubbock, Craig Hilliard and wife, Nicki, of Lawrenceville, Georgia; 17 grandchildren: Breklin Davis, Xander Davis, Aiselyn Hilliard, Caden Hilliard, Brody Davis, Conner Hilliard, Briggs Hilliard, Jedidiah Simons, Gracyn Davis, Jaron Simons, Adalee Simons, Piper Hilliard, Emmaline Davis, Hope Hilliard, Seth Hilliard, Autumn Hilliard and Evan Hilliard; 9 siblings: Pat Horn, Alma Griffin, Ran Horn, Deanie Rogers, Kim Gasser, Jamie Preyer, Kelli Waner, Stacy Horn, and Stephanie Courtney. Terry is preceded in death by her parents, J.T. and Virginia Horn. A special memorial service will be held at Quaker Avenue Missionary Baptist Church, after the COVID-19 virus pandemic subsides. Interment to be held at Peaceful Gardens, Lubbock, Texas.

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