By Elliott Brack
Editor and Publisher, GwinnettForum
JAN. 5, 2021 | It is with sadness and a heavy heart that I found out last week of the unexpected death of J. Terry Gordon of Norcross. For the last 17 years, my offices have been adjacent to those of Terry’s certified public accounting practice in Technology Park. I usually would see and often talk with him nearly every day.
On Christmas Eve around noon, he stuck his head into my office for two-three minutes. Later I learned that he had gone to his doctor that afternoon, not feeling well, and was that day admitted to the hospital with pneumonia. He died peacefully in the hospital five days later with his family by him, shocking us all.
In addition to conducting his large auditing and tax practice, Terry was involved in many Gwinnett civic and charitable activities. He volunteered on numerous charitable boards, often either advising them of tax questions, or serving as the treasurer.
No matter when you saw Terry, he was always genial, friendly and happy to talk with you. People came away from conversations with Terry in a happy mood. He did not bring controversy with him.
Terry was raised in the south Georgia town of Fitzgerald. After high school, he went to Statesboro and graduated from Georgia Southern College, now University. During those days of the draft, he was a member of an Air Force Reserve unit.
Gordon
Many may not remember the “Pueblo incident,” but it affected Terry’s life. On Jan. 23, 1968, the USS Pueblo, a Naval intelligence ship with 84 crewmen, was captured by North Korean patrol boats, and its crew imprisoned. This caused Terry’s Reserve unit to be called to active duty at Dobbins Air Force Base in Marietta, and he served for over a year at Dobbins.
Earlier Terry had met Jane Lowe, a graduate of Auburn University, when both moved to Atlanta. While serving at Dobbins, Jane and Terry were married. Afterward, he worked for the large accounting firm of Touche, and later joined Jerry Ashworth of Tucker in a CPA practice. From there, he opened his own accounting firm in Peachtree Corners in 1984.
J. Michael Levengood, an attorney in Lawrenceville, remembers Terry’s voluntary activities. “Terry Gordon supported the Gwinnett community in many significant ways. Terry also audited the annual financial statements of the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce for many years. Terry was soft spoken with a quick smile, a generous spirit, and a remarkable willingness to share his professional skills to improve the quality of life for all of us in Gwinnett County.”
Terry was president of the Gwinnett Rotary Club in 1986-87. One of Terry’s key activities has been with the Georgia Rotary Student Program, which brings foreign students for a year’s study in the USA, paid for by local clubs. It is the only program of its kind in Rotary. As many as 70 students annually study at Georgia colleges before returning home as “Georgia ambassadors.” Terry has been on this board for 29 years, was its treasurer for 14 years, was for three years as vice chairman and then chairman for five years. Terry was often traveling all over Georgia working with this program and its students.
Terry and Jane were founding members of the Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church in Lilburn, where they were deeply involved.
Terry’s life was a testament of how a person should live. We will miss him sorely.
James Terry Gordon, 1943-2020: May you rest in peace.
- Have a comment? Send to: elliott@brack.net
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