Dr. Terry Lee Childers

Dr. Terry L. Childers, 68 of Abilene, passed away at his home on Wednesday, December 8, 2021.  A memorial service will be held on Saturday, December 11, 2021 at 2:00 p.m. at the Hillcrest Church of Christ, 650 E. Ambler Ave., under the direction of Piersall Funeral Directors, 733 Butternut Street.

Terry is a home-grown hero of Abilene, Texas, born to Ruby Mae Beal and Watson Childers on December 31, 1952. He is the youngest of seven siblings. He attended Woodson Elementary and Woodson Junior High School before receiving his diploma in 1971 from Abilene High School. Terry was an elder’s son and obeyed the gospel at an early age at the North Tenth and Treadaway Church of Christ. Terry was always a focused and determined young man eager to learn.

While attending Abilene Christian University, he met the love of his life, Essie Charles, and was married on August 3, 1973, in Abilene, Texas, at his parent’s home. In 1974, he graduated from Abilene Christian University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science. In 1975, Terry continued his education at North Texas State University as a Clarence E. Ridley Scholar sponsored by the Texas City Management Association and completed a Master of Arts degree in Public Administration.

Terry was known around the world for his outstanding public service. He was a City Management Intern for Abilene from 1972-1974. From 1975-1976, he served in the position of City Administrator of Celina, Texas, where he was credited as being the first African American City Manager in the state of Texas. He served as Assistant to the City Manager for the City of Austin from 1976-1978. From 1978-1982, Terry served as the Assistant City Manager and Acting City Manager of Tyler. Later, from 1982-1986 the family returned to Austin, Texas, where Terry served as the Senior Assistant City Manager. In 1986, Terry became the first African American City Manager of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, at the age of 34, managing 3,800 employees with a $210 million operating budget. He became one of the nation’s youngest city managers for a major city. In 1989, Terry established Childers Construction Company and served as President for several years. The Childers Corporation became the largest Job Order Contracting firm doing business with the U.S. Department of Defense with offices in 26 states. The company was sold in 2002. In 2006, he accepted the position of Deputy City Manager of College Station. In recent years, Terry also worked as an Assistant Agency Director for Texas A&M Transportation Institute and as an interim City Manager for Amarillo, Texas.

Terry was an active community leader, having served on numerous boards and commissions. As a result, the Governor of Oklahoma appointed Terry as the Oklahoma Human Services Commission chair. He also served as Board Chair for First Commercial Bank in Edmond, Oklahoma, Board Chair of the College Station Medical Center, and the Board of Directors for the Brazos Food Bank and Bryan College Station Family Promise.

He was appointed to the Board of Trustees of his alma mater, Abilene Christian University, in 1988 and served on the Board for 23 years. At his appointment, Terry was the youngest Trustee appointed to the Board and the first African American Trustee for ACU.

Terry is a servant leader with a giving heart. With his wife, Essie, he established the Watson and Ruby Childers Endowed Scholarship for Abilene Christian University students in honor of his parents. In 1999 Terry and Essie established The Childers Institute for Leadership at Oklahoma Christian University. Furthermore, Terry and Essie traveled to Africa on four missionary journeys to build the first church building in Mombasa at Changamwe while members at Memorial Road Church of Christ in Edmond, Oklahoma.

Terry loved God and loved the Church. He was active in the Church, taught Bible classes, conducted workshops, and served as an interim minister for the North Tenneha Church of Christ in Tyler, Texas. Terry served as an Elder for the A&M Church of Christ from 2004-2012 and was a leading elder from 2010-2011.

In December 2015, Terry received an Honorary Doctor of Law degree for distinction in public and governmental service and contributions to the University and society. President Dr. Phil Schubert stated, “Terry is a true trailblazer. He has broken barriers in his life’s work in Texas and Oklahoma, making a real difference in the lives of people and the community in which they live.”

In 2021, Terry and Essie returned to Abilene, Texas, and placed membership with the Hillcrest Church of Christ. He immediately began to put his gifts to work by teaching Bible classes and developing Church curriculum.

Terry was preceded in death by brothers Watson Childers, Jr., Elijah Childers, Billy Joe Childers, and sisters Adelene Childers and Ruby Jean Hairston Childers.

Left to remember his legacy are: his wife, Essie of 48 years, daughter, Shalawn (Rickie) Harris of Orange, Texas; sons Jonathan Childers of College Station Texas, and Adam Childers of Dallas, Texas; grandchildren Terry and Toni Harris of Orange, Texas, a brother, Rickey (Sandra) Childers of Lancaster, Texas, and several nieces, nephews, cousins, and many close and loving friends.