Audney Terry

Audney Terry (Dec. 22, 1922 – Nov. 14, 1944) was a soldier from Oneida killed in France during World War II.

See Also: Scott Countians killed in war

Biography

Born Dec. 22, 1922, Audney Terry was the son of Loransy Dow “Rans” Terry (1885-1952) and Burnetta Ann Phillips (1882-1951) of the Black Oak area west of Oneida.

His siblings included Nova Marie Terry (1908-2000), Charlie E. Terry (1909-2000), Zelta E. Smith (1910-1993), Miles Terry (1912-1997), Esther Betty Chleba (1914-2009) and Thurman Lee Terry (1918-1965).

Audney was a second-great-grandson of Josiah Terry (1780-1868), the first settler of Oneida. His brother, Miles, married Dorothy Terry, who — along with her sister, Bertha — owned Terry & Terry Store in the Black Oak community. The sisters’ second-great-grandfather, Elijah Terry (1791-1870), was a brother of Josiah Terry. They moved to present-day Scott County at about the same time.

The Phillips family also dates back to the early 19th century in Scott County. Audney’s mother was a second-great-granddaughter of Thomas Phillips (1768-1841), who married Mary Goad, daughter of Revolutionary War veteran Abraham Goad (1740-1816) of New River. Thomas was himself the son of a Revolutionary War veteran, Tobias Phillips of Virginia.

Audney was not married.

World War II

PFC Terry enlisted in the U.S. Army on Aug. 3, 1943. He was assigned to the 351st Infantry Regiment, 35th Infantry Division, and fought in the European theater of the war. He was killed in France on Nov. 14, 1944.

Aftermath

PFC Terry’s body was returned to Scott County in August 1948. A funeral service was held by Rev. Leland Thomas at O’Possum Rock Cemetery, where his parents and many of his siblings are also buried.

He received the Purple Heart. He is listed on the VFW Post 5669 Memorial Wall in Oneida, the Scott County Veterans Memorial in Huntsville, and the East Tennessee Veterans Memorial in Knoxville.