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Terry Nisley: A friend, a husband, a father and a believer

Tom Treece
Tom Treece

The first time I laid eyes on him I laid eyes on all of him, meaning, we were both naked. I was in the YMCA sauna reading my Bible after a late afternoon workout when he sauntered in after his.

Introducing himself he informed me he worked at a downtown bank. He also asked to join the evening Bible study dear friend the Rev. Al Overstreet and I had begun conducting there in unquestionably one of the most unlikeliest of places you would find grown men reading, learning about and worshiping God.

I welcomed him and he became a regular. He also expressed a desire to learn more about the One we served, Jesus Christ, than in the short window the sauna afforded so I agreed to meet him each morning before work to study even more.

Terry and Michelle Nisley

Study he did and one Monday morning he called to tell me that in his Van Born Baptist Church the previous morning he made the most important decision of his life, asking Jesus to be Lord of His Life.

We became best friends and I remember the unadulterated love he couldn’t stop gushing about finding with a beautiful young lady, Michelle Harvell. Not long after, I was honored to sing for their wedding.

Years later, Pastor Overstreet came to me with a heavy heart.

"I want to start my own church and have found the perfect building,” he began. “But who’s gonna give a retired Black man on a fixed income with little resources a loan?”

"Hop in the van and let’s go for a ride,” I instructed.

As we drove I called my friend from the sauna, Terry Nisley, who now was a highly respected loan officer for Monroe Bank & Trust.

We hugged as we entered his office and he also immediately recognized Reverend Al and shook his hand vigorously.

"Brotherman,” I addressed Al with the pet name we called each other in introducing him to Terry, “Any chance you remember this man?”

“I’m sorry to say I don’t,” he responded.

Without hesitation I offered, “Perhaps you’d recognize him better if he took off his clothes!”

With that Rev. Al’s eyes popped open wide and he looked at me like I’d lost my mind. Quickly, I diffused the awkward situation by alerting Al that Terry was one who virtually came to faith in Christ through our naked YMCA Bible studies.

With that, recognizing a brother-in-Christ, Al and Terry hugged each other passionately and some 45 minutes later, we walked out of Terry’s office with a loan for the Al Overstreet Evangelistic Ministries building secured.

I’ve always believed God chooses special people for special responsibilities; I can think of few things more important than parenting. I can also think of few things more challenging than getting pregnant — as Michelle did — and then delivering in 2000 not one, not two, not three but four babies all at once.

Terry had a new nickname, “The Quadfather,” to the Nisley children — Caleb, Nathan, Abigail and Seth.

An army of family and friends came together to help care for these miracle babies; none more enthusiastically than Terry. He LOVED being a father and over their next 21 years remained glued to every aspect of their lives.

Terry and Michelle homeschooled their children and made sure they knew all about the saving grace of Jesus. I can honestly say I’ve never met four finer, more talented, intelligent, gracious, well-mannered young persons in my life.

Terry loved bluegrass music and founded the River Raisin Acoustic Music Festival where all profits went to charity.

It was just some five years or so ago he sent me a link to “my new favorite song,” which was “Someday” by the bluegrass band Blue Highway. He added, “Someday, I’d like this to be sung at my funeral,” as the song is all about believers going to heaven when they die.

Little did I know that day that last Saturday I would stand before a packed, standing-room-only Bacarella Funeral Home and do exactly that.

That packed room laughed heartily when I shared the stark circumstances of our meeting and developing friendship. I trust they also were listening to the words of the songs that were sung, the incredibly focused and thrilling testimonial address his brave wife gave, and especially the message in the sermon given by Terry’s pastor, the Rev. Gregory Albright.

Terry Nisley was a friend to all and loved by all. And while I deeply grieve his passing, I rejoice in the joy of believing that I, like all who know Jesus as Lord of their lives, will see him again one day in God’s great heaven.

But, what do I know.

Tom Treece is a Monroe native and musician. Contact him at rttreece@aol.com.