Dresden, Tenn.–Former State Commissioner of Agriculture Terry Oliver passed away in Dresden Saturday, July 4. Family members will be celebrating the life of Terry on Tuesday, July 7th at the First Baptist Church in Dresden. They will receive friends from 12:30-2:30pm with the service to begin at 2:30pm. A private burial will follow.
Oliver was devoted to serving the citizens of Tennessee. With more than two decades in public service, he was Deputy Commissioner under four Commissioners of Agriculture, followed by his own leadership in the role in 2010-2011.
During Governor Ned McWherter’s time in office, Oliver was instrumental in reshaping agriculture’s role in Tennessee. He placed a priority on forest resources and water quality improvement with the addition of the Division of Forestry and the Non-point Source Pollution program in the early 1990s.
Working with Commissioner Givens, Oliver later led efforts to improve the effectiveness of the Division of Forestry by overseeing modernization of the division’s heavy firefighting equipment and reorganization of management districts.
Oliver also led department efforts in the early 1990s to consolidate laboratory services to support the department’s regulatory and consumer protection programs for improved efficiency, safety, and cost effectiveness.
During Governor Phil Bredesen’s administration, Oliver played a significant role in the development and implementation of one of the Tennessee Department of Agriculture’s most impactful programs– the Tennessee Agricultural Enhancement Program– to support farm innovation and agricultural development in Tennessee.
According to his obituary, after a great day spent with dear friends riding on the golf cart, Terry peacefully went to sleep and joyfully woke up in Heaven.
On May 13, 1941, God created a farmer. Terry was born at his grandfather’s house in Gleason, TN. His parents, T.J. and Louise Oliver, raised him on their farm in the Ore Springs community with his 3 brothers and 1 sister. It was there that his love for agriculture began. Life on the farm taught him and his siblings to have a strong work ethic and deep love for family. Terry attended Dresden High School, where he fell in love with the game of basketball and enjoyed being an active member of the Future Farmers of America (FFA). After graduation, he was a student athlete at the University of Tennessee at Martin (UTM). He graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Education.
Terry graciously served his community throughout his professional career in real estate and politics, emphasizing his love for all things Tennessee and agriculture. He was a public servant of our state government for over 20 years. In 2010, Terry was honored to become the 35th Commissioner of Agriculture for the state of Tennessee. It was a position he loved and took great pride in holding. Most of all, Terry was a proud sixth generation farmer and strong family man. After his retirement, he continued to support and encourage many members in his community as they began their political and agricultural careers. His strong, yet humble presence was why many found themselves looking to him for guidance and advice through the years.
Terry is survived by his loving wife Marsha Walker Oliver, originally from Martin, TN and his daughters Angie (Rusty) Morris of Gleason and Melissa Overton of Dresden. His proudest accomplishment was being called “Poppa” by his three grandchildren, Katelyn and Rance Morris and Lakin Overton. He is also survived by two brothers, David (Beverly) Oliver and Johnny (Kitty) Oliver of Gleason, sister Sandra Ray of Tupelo, MS, and two sisters-in-law, Beth Oliver of Gleason, and Kitty Walker of Palmyra, VA. “Uncle Terry” also has 9 nephews, 4 nieces, 8 great nephews, and 11 great nieces, whom he treated and loved like his own. He is preceded in death by his parents T.J. & Louise Oliver, brother Paul Oliver, and special in-laws Larry Ray, Donald Walker, and Patsy Oliver. His great care for family and friends is what made him such a gentle giant. His tireless love, guidance, and support were evident every single day of his life.