Terri Lynne Mellown entered into eternal rest on August 31, 2025 surrounded by her family. She was 65 years old.

Born in Adamsville on July 8, 1960, her life was a living testimony to the power of prayer, grace, and service. She trusted Christ as her Savior when she was a young girl. Although she could not tell you the day or the time she got saved, she could take you to the place - her dad's bedside.

Terri always spoke fondly of her childhood. Playing the flute in the band, going to Auburn games with her grandparents, Sunday mornings as a pastor's kid, summers at the river, family vacations, and sibling conflicts were some of her most talked about memories.

Terri enjoyed a very close relationship with all of her siblings and their spouses throughout her entire life. When she married, she formed very strong bonds with her brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law as well. This closeness has carried them all together through many good times as well as some trials. Terri was a help meet to her husband during their almost 44 year marriage. She may have taken her assigned job from the Lord a little too seriously. In her last days, her main worry voiced to her children was "He doesn't know how to pay the bills. Y'all are going to have to help him." Just weeks before she passed, she showed him how to work the washing machine. He also fulfilled his God-given role of loving her for better or for worse and that is how their marriage was a success.

Terri answered the call to be a mother with as much purpose, determination, love, (and worry), as any one person could have. She was wholeheartedly committed to raise her children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. The amount of time, effort, and energy that she spent homeschooling and leading her three children through their early lives could not be imagined. Her children can truly rise up and call her blessed as well as recognize how extremely blessed they were to have her as a mother.

Terri probably loved being a grandmother more than anything else she did. Time spent at Grandmother's house was always special, not only to her eight grandchildren, but to any child that walked through her door. When they were with her, Grandmother was never too busy for a book, a game, or to scold Granddaddy for getting them too "riled up"! She always had to compete with granddaddy for their attention, but when it was naptime, they were eager to crawl up in her lap for storytime and to be rocked. Some special memories from her last year with her grandchildren include seeing Haven take her first steps, fulfilling her dream of going to Prince Edward Island with Taylor, Bella, Gibson, Caroline, Charleigh and Brooklynn, and being present for the birth of her most recently born grandbaby–Moriah.

Terri raised not only her own children but also helped care for her nieces and nephews - always opening her heart and home to them as if they were her own. Her home was a place of comfort, filled with warmth, laughter, and faith. Some of her nieces' and nephews' fondest memories include sliding down the stairs on sleeping bags, fresh farm eggs for breakfast, playing games, made-up bedtime stories, listening to Patch the Pirate tapes, sewing lessons, the crafting closet, laser tag tournaments, being called in for lunch with the dinner bell, watching deer in the backyard while eating around the kitchen table, Christmas morning breakfasts, and getting t-shirts from Aunt Terri for Christmas. The "playroom" was always full of puzzles, books, games and Little People. It provided hours of fun with no technology. They also remember her many worries, especially her nephew John that always ended up at the ER with a broken bone or needing stitches every summer that he stayed with her. She would often holler down to the playhouse to make sure they didn't fall off the loft. Going to Vacation Bible School with Aunt Terri was a highlight of their summer. She would help them learn their Bible verses so they could get their stars. After VBS, pizza by the pool was a traditional ending to the day. She taught them how to give proper hugs with TWO hands. Terri only had a few rules -  "no playing the piano" and "no one gets up from the table until you finish your milk". Terri was always about productivity so it was not always fun and games at her house. Sometimes she would recruit her nieces and nephews to clean the baseboards or her school bus. Some remember having to play phonics or leap frog games before they could play pinball or hunting games on the computer. All these things are testament to how much she loved them.

Terri was a pillar in her church for almost 40 years. She was known for her tireless dedication to missions, the children's ministry, and keeping the financial books. The love she had for her Lord and her local church was clearly evident.  Whether she was playing the organ or piano, teaching a child's Sunday school class, cooking a meal, or ministering to a brother or sister in Christ, she did it all to the glory of God.

Outside of her family and friends, education and mission work were her passions. She spent 25 years homeschooling her children. She also helped start and run Gloryland Christian Academy for 13 years. She spent countless hours teaching children Bible stories through Sunday School and Vacation Bible School. A few months before her death, she set up a lending library at her church with the intent of children and adults having access to quality Christian books. Her family intends to continue to add books and resources to the library through the "Terri Lynne's Library Project".

Terri took her two oldest children on their first of many missions trips when they were 7 and 5 years old. She was always honored to host missionaries in her home. Many lifelong bonds and friendships were formed during these times. She took every opportunity to help in the Honduras orphanage ministry that her church was heavily involved in.

For over 20 years, Terri proudly served as a Jefferson County bus driver sharing her love (and sometimes frustration) with countless children. Rain or shine, she could be counted on to safely guide her little passengers to school each day.

Later in life, Terri devoted much of her time to care for her own mother during a long and difficult journey with Alzheimer's. Day in and day out, she gave her mother dignity, compassion, and her loving presence that defined the kind of daughter she was.

Early in her cancer journey, the Lord gave her a verse to hold onto - Job 23:10 "But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold." During her 15 month cancer struggle, she remained a constant in the lives of her family and friends. Terri's legacy lives on in the lives she touched through her kindness, generosity, and unwavering belief in God's divine plan and timing. Assured by the Word of God, we know she has entered into her rest in glory, the joyful presence of the Lord, and has received a full reward. Terri would want everyone to have this same assurance of their own salvation that can be found only through Jesus Christ and His finished work on the cross.

Terri is survived by her devoted husband, Thomas Mellown, and her loving parents, Charles and Bonnie Click. She leaves behind her beloved children Matthew and Holly Mellown, Jordan and Anna Forshee, and Mary Mellown and her fiance Reilly Tedder. Terri was a proud and adoring grandmother to eight grandchildren: Taylor, Arabella, Gibson, Caroline, Charlotte, and Brooklynn Mellown; and Haven and Moriah Forshee.

Terri was preceded in death by her brother, Christopher Click, and survived by her siblings Tracy Click (and wife Kaye), Chuck Click (and wife Kim), and Dawn Bice (and husband Cary), as well as 14 beloved nieces and nephews.

She is also survived by a large extended family and many dear friends who will continue to cherish her memory.

A funeral service will be held at Gloryland Baptist Church at 1pm on Saturday, September 6, 2025. Doors to the church will open at 12:15pm. A graveside service will follow at Crumly Chapel Cemetery. There will be no public viewing.

In lieu of flowers, please make a monetary donation to the missions program of Gloryland Baptist Church or to the Terri Lynne's Library Project. All donations to the church can be given through the church by check, cash, or PayPal @gbcbhm.

But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold. My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined. – Job 23:10-11