Billy Terry Croom, "Terry" to his family and many friends, passed away into eternity from the Ray and Kay Eckstein Hospice Care Center at 5:45 a.m. on Tuesday, May 26, 2020.  He was 75 years, 9 months and 24 days old.  Terry was born the son of the late Billy Croom and Laura Horton Tharpe in Corinth, Mississippi, on August 2, 1944. Terry was also preceded in death by his step-father Robert Tharpe and his brothers, Robert Croom and Jackie Tharpe.

Terry was a graduate of Paducah Tilghman High School where he excelled in track and field, basketball and especially football.  While attending Murray State University on an athletic scholarship as a running back, he was drafted into the National Football League by the Baltimore Colts in the same position.  Terry was formerly employed as a supervisor with Phillip Morris for over 15 years and had also been employed with Local Union 1214 and as an instructor with the Breckinridge Job Corps Center in Union County, Kentucky.

Terry , a very loving and caring person, had a special loving spirit about him.  He was a helper, family and friends in many ways and donating to various charities that even helped people he did not know.  All in all he was a "People-Person" .  Terry was quite adamant about maintaining his health and would exercise daily without hesitation.  He was also one who would spend quality time watching all kinds of sports; he was the "#1 Sportsman" and thoroughly enjoyed cooking, pleasing the palates of all who consumed his delicious carefully prepared dishes of all sorts of foods.

He is survived by: Four Sons -Dexter (Kyra) Lander, Lexington, KY , Tony Piper, Evansville, IN , and Terrance Flemings and Aubrey Whitfield, Both of Louisville, KY ; One Daughter -Mioshi "Missy" Hill, Paducah, KY ; Nine Grandchildren ; Special Companion -Gilda Kohlheim, Paducah, KY; Siblings, William (Merlyn) Tharpe, Hattie Kendall and Thomas Earl Tharpe , All of Paris, TN; Several Nieces, Nephews, Cousins, and a Wide Circle of Friends.

Billy Terry Croom will be truly missed by all who knew him and were affected by his caring and kind nature.

Funeral services are scheduled for Saturday May 30, 12:00 Noon, at Pettus-Rowland Funeral Home with Reverend Michael Wade officiating. Burial will follow in Oak Grove Cemetery.

Friends may also call at the funeral home Saturday from 11:00 a.m. until the funeral hour.

The funeral home staff urges all who call at the facility to continue to abide by the state Covid-19 restrictions and maintain the social distance of six feet at all times.

The service will be live-streamed on periscope.tv/sjmbc2020 starting at 12:00 Noon of Saturday, May 30, 2020.

Pettus-Rowland Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.