02/13/2026
Garland Terry Stansell
April 24, 1953 - February 10, 2026
Garland Terry Stansell of Dothan, AL, left this world to be with the Lord on February 10,
2026, at the age of 72 after courageously battling Alzheimer’s disease. Terry was born
in Gadsden, AL, to Hobert and Clemmie Stansell. He grew up the second youngest of 8
siblings. Throughout his childhood, he loved being outside and playing sports,
especially basketball, baseball, and tennis. One of his favorite stories to tell was of him
playing tennis barefoot on hard courts during the scorching North Alabama summers.
With the encouragement of Coach Adkison, Terry went on to play tennis at Gadsden
State Community College and then at Troy University. Terry graduated from Troy with a
B.S. in Marketing in 1975 as the program’s most outstanding student. He also served as
captain for the tennis team and earned All-Gulf South Conference honors.
After graduation, Terry worked as a clothing buyer for Mercantile Stores Company and
spent 32 years in retail primarily as a general manager. He served stores in Georgia,
Alabama, Ohio, Kansas, Colorado, and Louisiana. He was a devoted father and
husband who was passionate about providing his family with opportunities, encouraging
his children in their pursuits, and exemplifying his deeply held family values of integrity,
love, and service. When he took time for hobbies, he loved hunting, fishing, golfing and
Alabama football. He especially cherished the family’s annual trip to the sandy shores of
the Gulf Coast – the “life for livin’.”
After retiring from retail, Terry and his family moved to Dothan, AL, where he and his
wife, Amelia, opened an Express Employment Professionals franchise in January 2009.
He successfully navigated the business through the Great Recession, enthusiastically
serving many Wiregrass businesses for 15 years. While building his business, he was
an active member of Rotary, the Dothan Area Chamber of Commerce, and several
education-oriented initiatives including the Dothan Education Foundation and Yes We
Can! Dothan. He was a fixture at Dothan High sporting events, rarely missing an
opportunity to cheer on his sons as they competed on the field and court.
In his last years, Terry was an active member of First United Methodist Church of
Dothan and their Respite Care Ministry. In the Respite Ministry community, he found
purpose and joy, and was loved with dignity and respect. He was known for his smile,
eagerness to laugh, contagious dance moves, and “loving everybody.”
Terry was preceded in death by his siblings Thurman, Elizabeth, and Beverly.
Terry is survived by his wife of 35 years, Amelia; their sons Jack (Jaime) and Ben
(Sabrina); his two daughters Cameron (Peyton) and Tracy (Alex); his grandson, Gavin;
his siblings Haskell, Alvin, Neal, and Brenda; and his beloved “dog” Cleo. The family
looks forward to receiving friends in the First United Methodist Church parlor at 10:00
a.m. on Friday, February 27, 2026, followed by a Celebration of Life in the sanctuary at
11 a.m.
First United Methodist Church of Dothan is located at 1380 W Main St., Dothan, AL
36301. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to First United Methodist
Church Respite Care Ministry, 1204 W. Burdeshaw St., Dothan, AL 36301l
