Longtime Vidalia onion grower dies

Terry Gerrald, a longtime Vidalia onion grower, died Jan. 31 at the age of 64.

Gerrald farmed throughout his life and owned and operated Gerrald's Vidalia Sweet Onions for more than 20 years, said his former secretary DeAnna Davis Beegle.

Also a grower of watermelons, Gerrald had been a member of the Georgia Vidalia Sweet Onion Committee and in 2009 received the Vidalia Onion Grower of the Year award.

Gerrald's company filed for bankruptcy last year, but Davis Beegle said Gerrald's outlook remained positive despite the difficulties.

"He had plans to plant watermelons this coming year," Davis Beegle said. "He was going to find a way to keep doing what he loved to do.

"That was his life, was his farm," Davis Beegle said. "His passion for God and for farming and for his family - that was what was most important to him."

Davis Beegle worked with Gerrald for nine years and said, as did others who knew him, that he will be greatly missed.

"He had the biggest heart of anybody that I've ever known," Davis Beegle said. "He was always willing to give ... His attitude on life was wonderful."

Jerry Hartley, who owned Syracuse, Utah-based Utah Onions for decades and who was a good friend of Gerrald, echoed that sentiment.

"He was a big guy and his heart was bigger than he was," Hartley said. "(He) helped a lot of people."

Another of Gerrald's friends, R.E. Hendrix, owner and president of Metter, Ga.-based Hendrix Produce, described Gerrald as a "teddy bear" and a man of his word.

Gerrald is survived by his wife Nancy, brother David, sisters Diane and Nan, son Chad, daughter Chelsea, and six grandchildren.

A visitation was scheduled for Feb. 2 and a funeral service for Feb. 3.