Terry Jean Day

“Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; for the Lord God is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation.” Isaiah 12:2

Terry Jean Day, age 81, of Belmont, Michigan, formerly of Wheaton, Illinois, passed away Saturday, February 28, 2026 at Boulder Creek Assisted Living & Memory Care in Rockford, Michigan, surrounded by the love and prayers of her family.

The daughter of Terry Bernard & Emma Jane (Janke) Fawcett, she was born on February 11, 1945 in Alexandria, Virginia. While attending Toccoa Falls Bible College in Toccoa Falls, Georgia, she met Roger Arthur Day and they married on June 29,1965 in Fayetteville, North Carolina. Together they made their home in Wheaton, Illinois, raised three sons, and enjoyed nearly 61 years of marriage.

Terry Jean graduated with honors with a Bachelor of Arts in Missions from Toccoa Falls College, Toccoa Falls, GA. She later received a Master of Science in Written Communication from National – Louis University; a Library Technical Assistant Certificate from College of DuPage, Glen Ellyn, IL; and a Writing for Children and Teenagers certificate from the Institute of Children’s Literature, West Redding, CT.

Terry Jean was a long-time community columnist in Wheaton, IL for The Daily Journal and later the Wheaton Sun. She was also a feature writer for the Daily Journal and the editor of a statewide newsletter with 11,000 subscribers. As a free-lance writer she contributed articles to numerous newspapers and magazines.

Terry Jean authored the Baker Book of Bible People for Kids, 1998, co-authored the Baker Bible Handbook for Kids, 1998, was a contributing writer for Fascinating Bible Facts for Children, Publication International, Lincolnwood, IL, and contributed to the question-and-answer section of God’s Word for Each Day, World Publishing, Grand Rapids, MI, 1995.

In 2013, Terry & Roger moved to Belmont to be closer to their son, daughter-in-law and grandchildren and were members of Plainfield Baptist Church.

She was preceded in death by her parents.

Surviving are her husband, Roger A. Day of Belmont, MI; their sons, Thom Day (Christina), Belmont, MI; Mike Day (Noribette), Costa Rica, and Steven Day (Debra), Dayton, OR; 16 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; brother Charles Childs and sister Darlene Cook; brother-in-law Thomas Day; sister-in-law Juanita Kairys, and several nieces and nephews.

Memorial services are at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, March 28, 2026 at Plainfield Baptist Church, 1750 Woodworth Street N.E., Grand Rapids, Michigan 49525, with her pastor, the Rev. Dr. David E. Hansen, Jr. officiating. A time of food and fellowship will follow the ceremony in the church hall.

In lieu of flowers, Terry would have appreciated contributions in her memory to 40 Days for Life, The Voice of the Martyrs and/or Plainfield Baptist Church.

To send a message of sympathy to the family, sign Terry’s online guest book, or to share a favorite memory, please visit: www.MichiganCremation.com

Cremation arrangements are entrusted to Christiansen’s Michigan Cremation & Funeral Care, Greenville, 616-754-5638.