Jerome Terry, Sr.

Jerome “Roni” Terry Sr. was born on May 30, 1950, in Chicago Illinois to the late Lessie B. Tigner and Bilbo Terry. Jerome came from a large and loving family where he was fifth born. Jerome was a man of faith, who confessed, and accepted Christ as his personal Lord and Savior at an early age. Jerome attended and graduated from Wendell Phillips High school, studied two years of an associate’s degree at the City Colleges of Chicago before going on to pursue a long and lucrative career in construction roofing.

Jerome “Roni” became a journeyman, who mastered the nuance of working with many different roof types and materials safely as well as took the time to teach the profession that allowed him a long and successful career. Jerome’s professional legacy is atop of many well-known skyscrapers and buildings throughout the city and state. Some of those well-known structures include The Prudential Plaza (formerly Prudential Building) which is a 41-story structure in downtown Chicago as well as The Shedd Aquarium that has come 400k gallons of rainwater that collects annually sending to the cooling towers on the roof to make the building more efficient and sustainable.  Other structures include but are not limited to Brookfield Zoo, Carl Sandburg High school, Continental Illinois Bank Building, Homewood-Flossmoor High school, Marist High school, The Reynolds Aluminum Plant Building in McCook IL, and St. Margaret of Scotland Elementary School where all five of his children attended.  After 40 years in the profession, Jerome retired as a construction roofer in 2011 and remained an active member of the Local 11 United Union of Roofers, Waterproofers, and Allied Workers.

If you asked Jerome, his greatest accomplishment was his family, being a husband, father, and grandfather.

Jerome “Roni” met his wife Debra, who was the love of his life and high school sweetheart while growing up on Lake Park Avenue in Chicago. His “One Forever Love” as they often referred to each other were joined in holy matrimony on June 11, 1971. Jerome was a devoted and loving husband for 49 years and their union was blessed with five beautiful children: Tanya Coreyetta, Jerome Jr., Tonishea Monique, Jermont, and TiAndrea Renee.

On the morning of June 28, 2020, while in his home surrounded by his family God called the gentle spirit of Jerome Terry Sr. to his heavenly home.