William 'Bill' Leon Terry

William (Bill) Terry passed away peacefully at home on January 15, 2026, after an amazing 95-year journey. Along his journey, he was a husband, father, brother, grandfather, uncle, friend, community activist, music lover, avid reader, and lifelong learner.

Bill was born in Louisiana to John and Memelle Lee Terry on December 10, 1930, and as a young boy, he moved to Berkeley, California, with his parents and two sisters. After graduating from Berkeley High School and attending a local college, Bill made the decision to enlist in the US Navy. He served during the Korean War and earned an honorable discharge in 1954. As a young man, Bill briefly returned to the family home in Berkeley before moving to the Los Angeles area, where he used his entrepreneurial skills to become a self-employed landscaper. Bill loved the beauty of nature, being outdoors, and learning about different plants. He would often joke about the irony of his choice to be a landscaper despite having seasonal allergies.

The beginning of a long career in the grocery store industry was next for Bill, during which time he advanced through the company, eventually leading to him earning his own route of specific stores to service. His own route allowed him to develop longstanding professional relationships with store employees and customers which was a testament to his ability to engage with people from all backgrounds.

After purchasing his first home in Pacoima, Bill married Ernie B. Drayton in 1958, and they started a family before settling in Ventura County, making it his home for the remainder of his life.

Shaped by events during his childhood such as racial violence in the South and the internment of Japanese American schoolmates and neighbors in Berkeley, Bill held a deep commitment to community service through advocacy. This commitment was further solidified during his service to his country in the US Navy where he was denied opportunities to advance due to racial discrimination. As a resident of Ventura County for over six decades, Bill turned that commitment into non-stop action on a wide range of issues, including the environment, access to healthy food, food insecurity, all forms of discrimination, and equitable access to the systems and institutions of our country such as education, politics, housing, and healthcare. He often explained to his children “I do this to make the world a better place for you so you won’t have to do it when you grow up”.

Bill was well aware of the impact individuals could have on their community but he was also acutely aware of the importance of individual and collective political power to bring about change. During the 1970s Bill was involved at the local level in some historic political campaigns, including Shirley Chisholm’s Presidential Campaign, Tom Bradley’s Los Angeles Mayoral Campaign, and Jane Tolmach’s Oxnard Mayoral Campaign. His engagement in these campaigns were rooted in his deeply held belief of aligning with political leaders who sought to uplift and serve their constituents.

Bill was a leader in several groundbreaking community endeavors such as:
A grassroots newspaper entitled Black Voice of the Community
Wee Young’ Uns Daycare Center
Ormond Beach and Restoration & Public Access Project
Community Roots Garden

Throughout the decades, Bill was a steady presence and frequent speaker at city council, school board, and commission meetings, as well as marches and protests. Never hesitant to share his opinions, offer solutions, and hold political leaders accountable, Bill earned the respect of individual citizens, county leaders, and elected officials. Many of whom would routinely seek his advice and support because of his historical knowledge, connections with other organizations, honest assessment of issues, and solutions-oriented focus.

Bill set an example for his family and the broader community through his civic involvement, enduring engagement, and mentorship of many others, especially youth and young adults. His familiar catch phrase, ‘FANTASTIC!’ was well-known to those close to him and exemplified how he chose to live with purpose, joy, and gratitude. He deeply loved his family, friends, and community, and that deep love is reciprocated by them.

Bill is survived by his wife, Gloria Roman; sister Luealisyrine Cannon (Robert); daughters Michele Terry, Leslie Terry Pimentel (Albert), and Traci Terry, from his first marriage; granddaughters Lauren and Ava Pimentel; stepdaughters Gloria Rodriguez (Lanny Boswell) and Teresa Roman; step-grandchildren Jacob and Priscilla Garcia. He also leaves behind several nieces, nephews, extended family members, and a community of friends who will remember him fondly.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, February 21, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. at Community Roots Garden, located at 1801 Joliet Place, Oxnard, California 93030.