Lived A Life Marked By Service to Christ, Publishers, and Booksellers
(January 31, 2025, Tempe, AZ) Ted H. Terry, whose service to the Christian publishing and bookselling industry dates back more than 60 years, died on Wednesday, January 29 at the age of 82 after an extended illness.
He is survived by his wife, Marietta, four children, 20 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his son Teddy Terry, Jr., who managed a Christian bookstore in the Houston area. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. (central) on February 22 at the Trietsch Memorial United Methodist Church in Flower Mound, Texas.
Terry was the founder of the Noble Marketing Group, which began its work in April 2001. Booksellers and publishers alike whom he served mourned Terry’s passing, saying that he was more than simply a business associate to them. They routinely spoke of him as a friend, a prayer warrior, an investor in their companies’ success, a pastoral presence, and a father figure.
Terry was born Sayre, Pennsylvania on November 12, 1941, a borough in Bradford County near the New York state line.
He began his work with Christian publishers in 1964 in a sales role with Thomas Nelson Publishers. He later held jobs with W.W. Norton in New York and with the Lee Collins and Associates firm, representing a portfolio of publishers across the country. In 2001, Terry partnered with Dwight Baker, then the president of Baker Publishing Group, to form the Noble Marketing Group, which would serve a host of Christian publishers including Baker, Kregel, David C. Cook, InterVarsity Press, Broadstreet, the Good Book Company and Crossway, among others, at various times.
“Over three decades of continual transitions in book publishing and retailing, Ted Terry never wavered in his loyalty to Christian readers and the companies who serve them best,” Dwight Baker said upon learning of Terry’s passing. “Ted Terry was a friend and colleague and our profession has been richly rewarded by his presence.”
Dave Hill, sales director at Kregel Publications, said, “There will be many fitting and laudatory words and touching memories written and spoken about Ted Terry in the days ahead – and each and every one of them will be welcome reminders of the gracious character and many contributions Ted has made to the publishing industry, to the customers he served, and the many other people who have been touched by his selflessness and generosity throughout his lifetime. I mourn the loss of Ted for all those reasons and many more – but the thing I will miss most is the man who warmly called me his friend.”
Current Baker Publishing Group CEO Jesse Myers added, “Ted Terry was exactly what one looks for in a business partner: diligent, professional, and filled with integrity. But more than that his warmth, compassion, and genuine Christian character will make him truly missed.”
Terry was recognized by the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA) with the ECPA Chair Award for his service to the industry at its awards banquet in May of 2024.
In presenting the award to Terry, ECPA President Jeff Crosby said, “Some people live to build a resume. Other people devote their lives to writing a testimony. Throughout his career working with books that dates back to 1964 and a sales role with Thomas Nelson Publishers, Ted H. Terry has decidedly built a testimony, as publishers and booksellers alike will readily attest.”
In a tribute piece written by ECPA’s Crosby and published in CRA Today magazine upon Terry’s retirement in 2024, a number of booksellers attested to his impact on their work selling Christian literature. Among them was Kathi Broughton, book buyer at Sower Bible Bookstore in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.
“When Ted calls and says he’s coming, we all get very excited as he makes it a celebration for us,” Broughton said. “Ted’s knowledge of the Christian market has been a great help to us, and he is willing to answer our barrage of questions. Both Ted and Marietta are also prayer warriors and have been ones we count on many times. We’ve been immensely blessed to have him as our rep, and we will continue to call him for advice and prayer.”
Marietta Terry, who has worked alongside Ted in service to the Christian products industry, described his passing by saying, “Our hearts are mourning, but our spirits are at peace knowing he is with his blessed Savior.”
Media Contacts:
Jeff Crosby, ECPA president, 630-989-0222, jcrosby@ecpa.org
David M. Terry, Noble Marketing Group, 510-813-9854
