Terrence (Terry) Lester Love, Sr. of Atlanta, Georgia died peacefully in his home on July 5, 2026 at the age of 89 after a long and courageous battle with throat cancer.

He was born February 6, 1937 in Covington, Virginia graduated from Covington High school in 1953 and The College of Architecture, Virginia Tech in 1960. He received an Honorable Discharge from the U.S, Army in 1962 having served in the Signal Corps during the Berlin Crisis.

Following military service at three U.S. Army posts in Kentucky, North Carolina and Georgia he settled in Atlanta, Georgia where he met and married Valerie Gay Le Craw.

Terry initially began his professional life as an architect with Bodine Lamberson and then Aeck Associates where he participated in the design of some of Atlanta’s most iconic skyline buildings.

In an attempt to further his understanding of the business side of architecture, he attended Georgia State University’s School of Business Administration and received an MBA and Ph.D with a major in Land Development and Urban Affairs with a minor field of study from Georgia Tech’s Department of City and Urban Planning in 1971. He then began working with the Urban Planning firm of Adley Associates in Atlanta. While there he enjoyed traveling to El Salvador and San Salvador and worked on a master plan for the new city after it was struck by a major earthquake.

Becoming a college professor was Terry’s third career and he tremendously enjoyed teaching at Emory University, Georgia Tech and Georgia State University and being challenged by young ambitious students. He published articles in many publications including in The Appraisal Journal and the Urban Land Institute’s Journal. He was an MAI and a member of the the American Institute of Architects, The American Institute of Planners, The Appraisal Institute and the Georgia Association of Business Brokers.

Terry’s final career was as President of Land Development Analysts (LDA), a commercial real estate appraisal firm where he handled jobs in over twenty different states. He frequently testified in court as an expert witness. After 47 years with LDA, he retired in May, 2026.

Terry loved serving in his community and was a former elder at Trinity Presbyterian Church, past President of the Kiwanis Club of Northside Atlanta and a member of the Buckhead Fifty Club. Terry was a strong Christian man and his family prayers were creative and beautiful to hear.

Terry enjoyed running (33 Peachtree Road races, 10 half marathons), traveling and drawing. He was an accomplished painter and his favorite pastime was presenting strangers with a sketch he had made of them and seeing the joy on their faces. He was a member of The Atlanta Artists Center, Chastain Arts Center and the Coastal Artists League of Hilton Head.

As an arts enthusiast, his personal life was filled with love of beauty in all forms including art, theater, music, and of course great jazz. He began his lifelong love of jazz at Virginia Tech where he was President of the Jazz Club and delighted in bringing big bands to the campus. After moving to Atlanta in 1964 he began volunteering at The Piedmont Arts Festival and enjoyed doing set designs at the Pocket Theater in the evenings.

He was preceded in death by his parents Patsy and Harold Love of Covington, Virginia. He is survived by his beloved wife of sixty years, Valerie Gay Le Craw Love, son Terrence (Todd) Love, Jr (Leanne), daughter Jennifer Love White (Christopher) and their two daughters Lindsay and Caroline. He is also survived by his brothers, Richard Love (Vera) of Round Rock, Texas, Hunter Love (Bobbie) of Sarasota, Florida, and sister Lois Love (Steve) of Richmond, Virginia. your text here...