This week, Sheriff Noel Brown and Captain Greg Collins attended the annual GSA Administrative Conference representing the Bulloch County Sheriff’s Office. Sheriff Brown had the opportunity to speak at the conference about Bulloch County’s beloved Terry A. Harville.
Terry was attending this same conference in 2022, when that evening, she passed away peacefully in her sleep on August 31st. Sheriff Brown spoke about the huge hole that was left in everyone’s hearts upon receiving the news.
“Terry was doing the amount of work that it took three people to replace. She was faithful in her mission to help people passing through BCSO with their driver’s license issues and criminal histories. Terry had a huge heart and loved working fundraisers and community events, and she was very protective of her friends and family serving as an advisor to many.”
While talking with Sheriff Brown, he stressed, “the importance of knowing how much work your people are doing, what they are working on, and looking after them to make sure they aren’t single-handedly taking on too much of the workload.”
Terry was a one-in-a-million. She began her career with the Bulloch County Sheriff’s Office on July 18th, 1994. Serving 28 years in total. She started out in the jailing area working at the booking desk. Shortly after, her hard work and ability to handle records and process paperwork led to a transfer to the administration side of BCSO.
In a previous article written about Terri, Sheriff Noel Brown stated, “Terry quickly took on multiple responsibilities ranging from reception to records administration and accounting.” He further said, “When Terry started her career, many records were still not computerized at the Sheriff’s office. Often paperwork was stacked on her desk, as multiple Sheriff Deputies will attest to. But when a particular item was needed, Terry would instantly retrieve it from the mountains of documents. Her unconventional, but accurate methodology of record keeping was well known and often a source of humor around the office.”
A contagious laugh and a love for people
BCSO’s Bubba Revell said, “Terry’s laughter was contagious, this is one attribute of hers that I miss the most.”
Terry’s sister, Christie Harville Black stated, “Over the past two years, learning to live without Terry has been a challenge. We have missed her laughter, friendship, and overall love for life. Terry left a great legacy behind with her generosity for wanting to help our community. She was truly one of a kind and made so many friends throughout her life.”
Her love for people and zest for life overflowed through everything that Terry did. She selflessly gave her of her own resources and free time. In 2001, Terry was a recipient of the Deen Day Smith Service to Mankind Award. The Deen Day Smith Award honors Statesboro and Bulloch County citizens for their devotion to others and the community.
Terry was devoted to Safe Haven, leading to multiple lives being saved. She participated in Dancing with the Statesboro Stars, in which she was recognized for fundraising the most money that that season, and the Team Player Award. Everyone in attendance that year witnessed her passion of giving back to the community that she loved.
Conference colleagues remember Terry
Through a post on Facebook’s GSA Admin page in 2022, Vicki Edwards-Ellis said, “I could never completely put into words the joy that TA Harville brought to me over the years. She never failed to pick up the phone to call me on important days, always helped when I needed her guidance on work related questions. She was one of the most giving people I’ve ever known. I loved listening to her talk about her family and her love for them came through in every conversation. The GSA Admin. Staff Conference Peeps have lost one of their own and that absolutely breaks my heart. My heart goes out to her family and her work family at Bulloch County Sheriff’s Office you will be in my thoughts and prayers.”
In one of the comments on the GSA post about Terry, Jody Sowers Jones stated, “She was always so nice and spoke to me every year at the conferences.”
Melissa Driggers Wadell said, “I met Terry at the GSA Admin Conference in Stone Mountain in 2009. She became a great friend, and we had so many fun times through the years. I consider myself privileged to have known her and loved her. Our world is a better place with her in it, and I will miss her from now on.”
Carol Wineskie Waters wrote on Terry’s Facebook page shortly after her passing, “If you knew Terry, she always made you feel special. Everyone who ever came in contact had different kinds of relationships with her, but there is no doubt she made a positive impact on your life. Whether she was your daughter, sibling, friend, coworker, or acquaintance, she was larger than life. We recently talked about our love of Jesus, and I know without a doubt that she is with God. I pray that today we all take the opportunity to reflect on our many good times with Terry. In honor of Terry please make time and a conscious effort to continue the things that were important to her, like helping coordinate Public Safety Trunk or Treat, Child ID, Wilbur Berry Golf Tournament and various benefits to assist those in need. My friend was selfless, loved her family and never met a stranger. Terry, Rest in Peace and know that my family and I will miss your presence in our lives. We are all better by knowing you.”
There is certainly no doubt that Bulloch County’s loss of Terry A. Harville may be one that we may never fully recover from, but as her sister, Lynne Harville Bunch said, “We all miss her, but I know she is watching over us here at work and at home.”
