Terrell Edward Wise

Terrell Edward Wise, 88, died Saturday, July 12, 2008, at Hospice Ministries in Ridgeland.
A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, July 14, 2008, Woodland Hills Baptist Church. Visitation will be Sunday, July 13, 2008, from 5:00 until 7:00 p.m. at Wright and Ferguson Highland Colony Parkway and Monday from 1:00 p.m. until 2:00 p.m. at Woodland Hills Baptist Church.
Mr. Wise was a native of Pensacola, Florida. He graduated from Pensacola High School and attended Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, Perkinston Campus. In 2007 he was presented the Sam Owen Award by the college. This honor is given annually to an outstanding member of the Alumni Association who actively supports the school. Mr. Wise served the college as the Scholarship Chair.
He served in the Army Corps of Engineers during World War II achieving the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He was stationed in New Guinea, Philippines and Korea.
Upon his return from the war, he founded Wise Construction Company in 1948. His company built commercial structures throughout the southeast which included banks, churches, stadiums, manufacturing facilities, libraries, retail stores and general office buildings. His favorite project was the renovation and addition to Mississippi's Governor's Mansion, completed in 1975. Now listed on the National Registry of Historic Places, the mansion was restored to a place of beauty and long tradition. Mr. Wise affiliated with the Association of General Contractors in 1952 and served four terms as President of the Association. He was elected Director of the AGC of America and was made a national life director in 1975. He subsequently served as chair of numerous national committees. In 1991 Mr. Wise was the recipient of American Institute of Contractors highest honor, the Walter A. Nashert Construction Award. He served the American Arbitration Association as Chairman of the Mississippi Advisory Council.
To further excellence in his avocation, Mr. Wise was instrumental in the development of the School of Construction Technology at the University of Southern Mississippi.
Mr. Wise invested a great deal of time in community service. He served as Chairman of the Mississippi United Republican Fund and was politically involved at state and national levels. President Bush presented him an award of appreciation for his work on the Republican Presidential Task Force.
He served on the Board of Governors of Hinds General Hospital for 17 years acting as Chairman for 11 of those years. He was a founding member of the board of Goodwill Industries and served as President. He was Chairman of the Woodland Hills Baptist Church Deacons, was a member of the Walter Scott Coffee Club and North Jackson Kiwanis Club with a perfect attendance record for 25 years.
He is survived by his wife of 69 years, Eloise; his daughter, Terry Lynn Hamm of Jackson; his granddaughter, Mary Haley Hamm of Memphis, TN; and nephews, George Drennan of Atlanta, GA, Frank Drennan of Ridgeland and Mike Drennan of Brandon.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College Foundation or Woodland Hills Baptist Church.