Terrell Lee West

1957 - 2024

Mr. Terrell Lee West was born Nov. 2, 1957, in Ellijay.

He died Thursday, Feb. 1, 2024, under the recent care of Sacred Journey Hospice in McDonough following a fierce 13-year battle with cancer.

His home, which he shared with Cheryl, his wife of over 26 years, is near the 9th Fairway of the Honey Creek Golf course in Conyers.

He is preceded in death by mother, Susie Waters West; nephew, Douglas Lee West; aunts, uncles and grandparents who were a large part of his life. Boyd and Azzie Waters and N.A. and Flora Mae West of East Ellijay were a constant presence in his early life, along with many cousins.

He is also survived by well-loved children, stepchildren and grandchildren. Tanya West lives in Alpharetta. Logan West and Ms. Alex Culler also reside in Conyers. Stuart West, Lindsey West Giles, Lee Giles, Mallary and Bret Baxter, Chris and Heather Joris and Jessica and John Whittingslow; all of who reside near the Georgia coast with their children.

Landon Lee West, Thomas Edwin Giles, William Hardy Giles (Woody), James Terrell Giles (JT), Cooper, Baylor and Bennet Joris, and Drew and Jack Whittingslow.

His father Ronald Lee (Ronnie) and his wife Sue Dalrymple West, along with his siblings Philip West, of Ellijay, and Kathryn (Kathy) West and husband Chris Stearns of Dalton and stepbrother Tim Starks and family of Ellijay.
Also in Ellijay are nephews and nieces Corey West, Nathan and Cayla West, Haden, Mason Lee, Lance and Addie Lou, and Jennifer West, their mother and grandmother.

Numerous aunts, uncles and cousins live in Georgia and several other states.

He graduated from Gilmer High School in 1975. Wearing Bobcat jersey numbers 11 and 12, he excelled at all sports. He earned graduate degrees and spent his early career practicing public accounting. Following his great love of the outdoors, he joined the Department of Natural Resources in 1985 as a Georgia Conservation Ranger based in Wilkinson County. He was recognized by the DNR as the 1990 Ranger of the Year. He served in many capacities including game warden, corporal, sergeant/training coordinator at the Georgia Public Safety Training Center, administrative captain at Law Enforcement Headquarters, state boating law administrator and assistant chief.

From 1992 until 1999, he served at the Coastal Resources Division in Brunswick. He served as the chief of law enforcement for Georgia DNR from 2005 to 2010 when he was promoted to assistant director of the Wildlife Resources Division in Social Circle. In 2013, he was promoted to the commissioner's office in Atlanta and in 2016 became the deputy commissioner for DNR. He retired Feb. 25, 2020.

He loved almost all sports. He was a dedicated distance runner and had qualified for the Boston Marathon when he received the cancer diagnosis in 2011. He then turned his sports passion to golf and played regularly until a relatively short time ago. He diligently followed the PGA and Premier League football. Terry had recently become a great fan of Billy Strings, along with other bluegrass musicians. He enjoyed his great friendship with his long-time foursome and with his career friends through the years.

A private service for the family will be held at a later date. Terry did not wish for this sort of obituary or any at all. These words are from the heart of his family and especially from his little sister. We will miss him always.

As a memorial, please consider a donation to the West & Warren Foundation, P.O. Box 2601, Ellijay, Ga., or to the Georgia Natural Resources Foundation at 2 Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. SE, Suite 1252 East, Atlanta, Ga., or gnrf.gadnr.org.

Bernhardt Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.