Dr. Terry Tabor left a devoted and grieving family behind on Wednesday, March 17, 2021, as he made his exit from this earthly life. Surrounded by his wife, Joyce; daughter and namesake, Teri Rae Stevens and son-in-law, Russell Stevens, he made a peaceful and quiet departure — just as he lived his life!
Also left to mourn his leaving are his oldest and devoted granddaughter, Ashley Leigh Ann Stevens — of whom he was extremely proud and loved dearly; his youngest daughter, Leigh Ann Bronson (Frank) and three children, Max, Jake and Sydney, of Ft. Collins, CO; one remaining uncle, Perry Cunningham (Betty), and several cousins living in Roanoke, VA; his sister-in-law, Margarite Spanogle of Lookout Mountain, GA, as well as numerous nieces and nephews whom he loved and with whom he felt very close.
Terry was born in Maybeury, WV, July 17, 1941 and moved to McComas, WV, as a baby. There he grew up until his parents, Arnold M. Tabor and Frances E. Cunningham Tabor, moved to Princeton, WV, when he was in the 8th grade. After graduating from Princeton High School in 1958, where he was his junior and senior class president and a four-sport letterman in football, basketball, baseball and track and field, he attended and graduated from Concord College (now university). He was on the track and field team in college, throwing the discus for the duration of his time there. There is where he met his wife, Joyce Vinson, and they married on December 21, 1963. Upon her graduation in May 1964, they moved to Knoxville, TN, where he earned his master’s and doctorate degrees in Education from The University of Tennessee, Knoxville.
Terry's beloved University of North Florida is the reason he came to Jacksonville in 1972 as a founding faculty member. He knew it would be a rewarding opportunity and for 35 years, it certainly was that for him. He loved teaching first in the College of Education, then in the College of Health. Getting his doctorate in Exercise Physiology afforded him the chance to teach students about a great love of his life — healthy living!
Terry was literally president of almost every group or organization to which he belonged throughout his life and played every sport he could play. He most enjoyed teaching/coaching young children all his life — starting out as a young teen coaching little league sports in his community, and continuing as his own children played numerous sports. He not only coached his children, he even coached his oldest grandson, Max, in little league basketball, during which time one of the other children on the team asked him "why is your hair white?" None of the other coaches had white hair!! :))))
He, Joyce and their daughters lived in Orange Park, FL, for just shy of 50 years and have been fortunate enough to have made many wonderful friends. The family would like to express their deep-felt gratitude and appreciation to many of those devoted friends for all their support and help during Terry's illness. Without the help and guidance of Dr. and Mrs. John Arnold, the family would not have made it through his toughest times!!
There will be no services and his interment will take place at the local Magnolia Cemetery at a later date. If contributions are considered, the family would suggest donations to Community Hospice of Fleming Island, FL, and to a Terry favorite — St. Jude's Children’s Research Hospital. Arrangements are being handled by Aaron and Burney Bivens Funeral Home of Orange Park, FL.
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