On Tuesday, January 5th Mr. Terry’s wife, Amanda Collins, lost her life due to complications of COVID-19 that she had been fighting since before Thanksgiving. Mr. Terry is an incredibly hard worker who is extremely dedicated to his job on the custodial staff at Burnet Middle School, and while he had been at his wife’s bedside as much as he could during her fight, financial implications resulted in him being at work the day of her passing. Now on top of having to plan financially for his wife’s funeral, he is currently facing mounting medical bills due to her complications while also dealing with the grief of his loss.

Mr. Terry is the kind of man that would never ask for help yet is always willing to lend a hand wherever it is needed. Anyone who has attended Burnet Middle School knows what it feels like to see his big smile greet you in the hall every morning, hear him shout your name from across the cafeteria followed by a big wave, or even have the privilege to sneak a piece of his gum even if it was his last piece. Mr. Terry is more than a school janitor; he is a mentor and an inspiration to all students he encounters. He has shown many of us that it is possible to triumph over adversity while treating others with kindness and maintaining a positive outlook on life. Anyone who has had the privilege of knowing Mr. Terry knows how kind, warm hearted, and selfless he is, and now is our chance to help him in his time of need.