Louis Terrell Sovey, Jr.

Louis Terrell Sovey, Jr. passed away peacefully on September 3rd, 2024, at the age of 93, at Spartanburg Regional Medical Center. He was surrounded by his daughter, Jacquelyn Sovey Brennan of Cartersville, Georgia, and close family friends. Terrell was born on April 1, 1931, in Gainesville, Georgia, to the late Louis Terrell and Kathryn Sovey. He graduated from Hartwell High School, where he proudly earned the rank of Eagle Scout. Terrell went on to attend the Georgia Institute of Technology on a naval scholarship, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Engineering. While there, he was a member of the Beta Theta Pi fraternity.

He married his college sweetheart, Anne Michael Smith, on June 5, 1952, at the Methodist Church in Athens, Georgia. After a brief honeymoon at St. Simons Island, the Soveys established their first home in Bayonne, New Jersey, as Terrell attended the Navy's Supply Officers School. During his time in the Navy, which included service in the Mediterranean on a Destroyer during the Korean War, they were stationed in Newport, Rhode Island and Boston, Massachusetts. Their first daughter, Kathryn Anne Sovey, was born in 1954.

Upon his discharge from the Navy, the Sovey family lived in Toledo, Ohio, Ashton, Rhode Island, and Ridgewood, New Jersey, while Terrell worked for Owens Corning Fiberglas. In 1959, they moved to Spartanburg, South Carolina, where Terrell was employed by Deering Milliken Service Corporation.

After moving to Spartanburg, Terrell was instrumental in founding Westminster Presbyterian Church, where he and Anne actively served. Their family grew with the birth of their son, Louis Terrell Sovey, III, in 1960, and their daughter, Jacquelyn "Cissy" in 1969. Jacquelyn's two sons, Jackson Terrell and George Pierre Brennan, brought great pride to their grandfather with their academic and work accomplishments.

Following 18 years at Deering Milliken, Terrell was appointed president of M. Lowenstein Corporation, leading a successful company turnaround. In 1980, he established his own consulting firm, Management Advisory Services, where he founded Goldtex Inc. and Precision Cutting Services Inc. Terrell later became chairman and CEO of Texfi Industries while also consulting for various non-textile companies during and after his tenure with those organizations.

In addition to his professional achievements, Terrell served as chairman of the Spartanburg Day School, director of the Spartanburg Boys Home, chairman of the Spartanburg Regional Foundation Board, member of the Georgia Tech Alumni Association Board of Trustees, and member of the Georgia Tech ISyE Advisory Board.

Sadly, Kathryn and Louis predeceased their father and mother, leaving Jacquelyn as the only remaining child. Anne passed away just recently on May 28, 2024.

A funeral service for Terrell will be held at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 309 Fernwood Dr, Spartanburg, SC 29307, at 3:00 PM on Saturday, September 7th, and will be conducted by the Rev. Steve Wise. The family will receive friends following the service in the fellowship hall. The burial will be at the Sovey plot in Nacoochee Valley, outside Helen, Georgia, at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Spartanburg Regional Foundation, PO Box 2624, Spartanburg, SC 29304 or the Spartanburg YMCA, 151 Ribault Street, Spartanburg, SC 29302.

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