Teresa (Terry) Diane Jennings

Teresa Diane Jennings-known simply as "Terry," "Happy T" or simply "T" to the thousands who loved her-passed away unexpectedly on February 19th at the age of 64.

Born on March 20, 1961, at Naval Air Station Jacksonville to Wayne and Diane Jennings, Terry was the eldest of three children. As the family's matriarchal sister, she dedicated herself to guiding her younger sister and brother through the complexities of life with wisdom and grace.

A proud 1979 graduate of Glencoe High School, Terry's life was defined by a servant's heart. From an early age, she was a fixture in her church, teaching Vacation Bible School, and volunteering for numerous ministries. Having accepted Jesus as her Savior as a teenager, she spent the rest of her life reflecting His sacrificial love to everyone she met.

While her career began in Birmingham, Terry found her true calling in the toy department at Pizitz. She possessed a rare, God-given gift for matching customers with the perfect gift or collectible. This passion eventually led her to Little Faces Doll Shop in downtown Gadsden. Under Terry's visionary management and later her ownership, Little Faces celebrated over 30 years as a beloved landmark. While many loyal customers followed her from Pizitz, it was at Little Faces where she built an unbelievable number of lifelong relationships. It was also where anyone that interacted with Terry knew that she always wanted to give you a big hug. Upon saying goodbye, or if she were speaking to you on a phone call, she would not hesitate to end the conversation by telling you, "Huge Hugs," because she deeply wanted you to know just how much she cared.

Terry was a cornerstone of the Gadsden community, instrumental in helping establish "First Friday" and various other local events. Her civic leadership extended to the board of NE Alabama Tourism, where she worked to better the region she loved. Outside of her professional life, Terry was an avid birder and served as the resolute ancestral expert for every branch of her family, meticulously preserving their history for generations to come.

Terry was preceded in death by her parents, Wayne, and Diane Jennings of Glencoe; her sister, Sherry Jennings Roden of Centre; and the love of her life and soulmate, Rex Gay of Southside.

She is survived by her brother, William (Bill) Jennings, Jr. (late wife Petra Jennings) of Temple, TX; niece, Kristy Harrington (Daniel) of Weaver; nephew, Sam Roden (Megan) of Swearengin; and great-nephews, Cameron, Chris, and Caden Thornton.

A Celebration of Life will be held on February 28th at 210 at the Tracks (210 Locust St, Gadsden, AL 35901). The family will receive friends during a visitation from 2:00 PM to 2:45 PM, with the service beginning at 3:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you donate to A Servant's Heart Missions Food Pantry or to a local charity of your choice.