TERRI H. KORNEGAY
July 9, 1959 - Jan. 13, 2017
Terri Ham Kornegay, 57, entered into her heavenly home on Friday, Jan. 13, 2017.
In every aspect of her life, she embodied the characteristics of a Proverbs 31 woman.
"Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.
Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
Honor her for all that her hands have done,
and let her works bring her praise at the city gate."
Terri was born July 9, 1959, to Howard and Janice Ham. From early on, Terri used her musical talents and vivacious personality to bring people together. She served as Miss Goldsboro 1980 and won 2nd runner-up at the Miss North Carolina Pageant. For years following her reign, she served as a mentor to young women and helped empower them to reach their goals. Terri had a physical beauty that was enhanced by the inner beauty she shared with others.
She met the love of her life, Jay Kornegay, at Mount Olive College in March 1979 and they recently celebrated their 35th wedding anniversary. Together Terri and Jay raised two loving sons, Jay Jr. and Tyler, who were the joy of her life. As a family, they served the Lord in song, and through their ministry of music, touched countless lives. More recently, the family along with Jay Jr.'s girlfriend, Blair Mozingo, used their musical talents to bring the word of Jesus to audiences big and small.
Terri's love for her family was second only to her love for Jesus. She looked forward to attending and hosting family events and could always be counted on to document the occasion with pictures and video that she would turn into thoughtful gifts and mementos for everyone. She lived her life with the type of joy that can only come from being a child of the King. She was a bold witness for the Lord, never missing an opportunity to share the love of Jesus no matter the circumstances.
Terri grew up in Bethel UMC in LaGrange and her friends there always held a special place in her heart. She and her family attended Providence United Methodist Church in Goldsboro where, over the course of many years, she used her talents in word and song to serve as youth leader, Sunday school teacher, choir member, pianist and the "spark" that started the Providence Praise Team.
Serving as an elementary school teacher for 30 years with time spent at Meadow Lane Elementary and Grantham School, she genuinely loved every single student and found the good in everyone. Through her leadership, the first Christian Club was started at Grantham School as a way for students to learn about and build their relationship with Christ. Her light for Jesus and her dedication shone so brightly not only through the lives of her students, but through her relationships with her students' families and her co-workers. Teaching was not just a career for Terri, it was a ministry and a way to show the love of Jesus to her fellow man.
Terri had a unique way of connecting with people and it was her faith and encouragement that helped lead many lives to Jesus. She had a way of inspiring all that she touched to grow personally and spiritually. To know her was to love her, and to meet her was like seeing the face of Jesus.
A celebration of Terri's homegoing will be held on Monday, Jan. 16, 2017 at 2 p.m. at Providence United Methodist Church, 202 Providence Church Road, Goldsboro, N.C. with visitation to follow at the church. A private burial will be held at the family cemetery.
In addition to her husband and her precious sons, Terri is survived by her mother, Janice Carraway Ham; her brother, Jay Ham and wife, Ann; her father-in-law, J. Nelson Kornegay and wife, Faye; her sister-in-law, Diane Brown and husband, Paul; her sister-in-law, Ashley Kornegay Faulk and husband, Ven; niece, Leigh Brown Mitchell and husband, Cory; niece, Brittany Acree and husband, Kevin; nephew, Kyle Ham and wife, Caitlin; nieces Patricia, Emma, Julia and Susannah Faulk; nephew, James Faulk; great-nieces, Harper Anne Acree and Scarlett Rose Ham; great-nephew, Hampton Reed Acree; numerous aunts, uncles and cousins whom she loved dearly along with a myriad of friends that she counted as brothers and sisters in Christ. She was preceded in death by her father, Leslie Howard Ham; mother-in-law, Helen Outlaw Kornegay; grandmother, Irene Ham Barrow and grandfather, Benjamin Frank Carraway.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial gifts be directed to Cures For The Colors, 203 Cox Boulevard, Goldsboro, N.C. 27534.
Shumate-Faulk Funeral Home is serving the Kornegay family and online condolences may be directed to www.shumate-faulk.com.
(Pd)
Published in Obituaries on January 15, 2017 10:22 AM