Terry Prieston Titus

Terry Prieston Titus, 70, passed away peacefully Thursday, August 4, 2022, at his home surrounded by his wife and children. Terry was born May 27, 1952, in Camden, New Jersey to the late Raymond and Marie Titus. He grew up in Mullica Hill, New Jersey surrounded by beautiful orchards and farms. Terry always kept a "can-do" attitude powered by his strong, never-ending, and unwavering faith in God, a life of service to others, and not service to self. 

A builder is defined as a person who puts parts or materials together over time to construct something. Terry Titus was a builder his entire life, physically to construct things, personally and spiritually to construct relationships with others. He was a life-long Episcopalian, beginning as an Altar Boy with St. Stephens Episcopal Church in Mullica Hill, New Jersey, continuing as a member of Galloway Episcopal Church of Elkin, where he actively served the church faithfully for 27 years building relationships as a Senior and Junior Warden for 20 years on the vestry, a choir member, and Lay Eucharistic Server. 

During his youth, Terry was a member of the Boy Scouts of America. He achieved Eagle Scout in 1965 and was a staff member of the Boy Scout World Jamboree Summit when held in Idaho in 1967 and 1969, Ft. A.P. Hill, Virginia in 2010, and Bechtel Reserve, West Virginia in 2013. At an early age, Terry began his love for music. He was professionally trained in voice for 6 years which enabled him to audition at Carnegie Hall for both the Oberlin and New England Conservatory of Music, to which he was accepted to both. He instead took a full R.O.T.C. scholarship that brought him to North Carolina to attend Wake Forest University. GO DEACS!!! 

Terry never slowed down, continuing with service, building relationships, and building as a General Contractor and owner of Titus Construction Company for 14 years before retiring. As a General Contractor, some of his accomplishments included:

restoration of the Winston-Salem City Chamber of Commerce; received a National Award for Rest Stops on 1-77 in NC Exit 1; built the first Senior Center in North Carolina that was dedicated by Governor James G. Martin; he constructed many homes, several banks, nursing homes, various churches, hotels, funeral homes including Gentry Family Funeral Service of Yadkinville; and most notably the Ray Kappe Home for Danny Frankel which was published in the 2000 Global Architecture Magazine. 

He also continued to build on relationships volunteering his time with several charitable organizations. He was the Charter President of the Yadkin County Chamber of Commerce in 1985; served on the Yadkin Valley Economic Development District Inc. Board of Directors for 7 years; Charter President of the Yadkin County Rotary Club in 1998; served as Assistant District Governor of District 7690 in Rotary International for 6 years; District Governor for Rotary International of District 7690 from 2011-2012; was a Paul Harris Fellow; member for 39 years of Yadkin Masonic Lodge #162 A.F. & A.M., of which he served as Master in 1988; 32 Degree Mason of the Winston-Salem Valley Scottish Rite; NC Grand York Rite Free Mason and three of their bodies the Rural Arts Chapter of NC, Grand Council, Grand Commandery Knights Templar; and served on the Board of Directors of the NC Piedmont Triad Regional Development Corporation, which provided economic development for 12 counties. 

Terry enjoyed hunting wild game for both the fellowship with others and nature, as well as, providing food to be cooked and enjoyed by others. He loved his time with close friend Jack Henderson when they would provide "Critter Cooking's" as a time of laughter, fun, and fellowship with the community. Terry seized the opportunity of cooking for and feeding his family and friends, which would allow him to share a part of himself by loving anyone who would attend. He always enjoyed every holiday and would use that as an avenue to continue to give to others without wanting to receive any recognition. He also enjoyed gardening, and woodworking, and especially loved to visit their cottage on the NC coast, where he could spend time with dear friends in the area. Terry had a special love for all his animals, as of late he especially loved his sweet baby girl, Gracie Belle. 

Terry had fond memories of traveling with his Maternal Grandfather at age 12 to Greece, Egypt, Israel, Yugoslavia, Italy, Spain, Portugal, France, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Turkey. Then later in life, he enjoyed traveling with his family and friends to England, Ireland, New Zealand, Australia, Mexico, India, Canada, Iceland, Bermuda Islands, Bahama Islands, Fiji, and all U.S. states except Alaska. 

With all the time spent building physically, spiritually, and personally with others, nothing could compare with the love he built and had for his beloved family. His family was the cornerstone he would build upon with others. His love for each of them was unending, unparalleled, and never questioned. “His Lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord." Matthew 25:21. Those left to cherish his memory are his beloved wife, of whom Terry was the love of her life, Rhonda Weisner Titus; his cherished daughter, Ashley Prieston Titus, and friend, Tom Simek; revered son, Winston James Fleming, and friend, Audrey Dills; nephew, Nick Titus and wife, Julie of Forest Grove, Oregon; Cousin, Mary Salley and husband, David, and their son, Brian Salley of Woodstown, NJ; and several close family and friends including, Kirby and Sue Weisner, Tracy Weisner Thompson, Tony Sewell, Genene Dobbins, Tammy Fritz, Karen Leamon, Franklin Spence, family and friends in Greece. In addition to his parents, Terry was also preceded in death by his brother Keith Titus, and by his “second Mom” and close friend, Alice Wishon. 

A Celebration of the Life Service for Terry Titus will be held 10 AM Saturday, September 10, 2022, at St. Paul's Episcopal Church of Winston-Salem, 520 Summit Street, Winston-Salem, NC 27101. The family will receive friends immediately following the service in the Colhoun Room at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church.  The family has requested that in lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to a service of the community that was dear to Terry's heart, Yadkin Christian Ministries, 117 Woodlyn Drive, Yadkinville, NC 27055.  Gentry Family Funeral Service of Yadkinville is serving the Titus Family.  Online condolences may be made to www.gentryfuneralservice.com.