Mr. Terry was born in 1880 to two former slaves in Virginia, A Mr. – Walker and Rosa Epps Walker. After the death of his parents, he moved to Brockton to be with relatives.
He went from being janitor at the Brockton Y.M.C.A. to being the first Black millionaire real estate mogul in the city. Terry had a wildly successful business which was eventually established in Brockton, MA and in Harlem, NY. He was a friend of Madame CJ Walker, the first, female self-made millionaire who famously created a hair care business. Watt Terry had a business office at the site of the Checkerton & Chelston Apartments in Brockton (famously burned down in a 4 alarm fire).
He was the pseudo godfather to iconic civil rights pastor Wyatt Walker, who was born in Brockton and named after him. Terry was a registered member of Booker T. Washington’s National Negro Business League, est. 1900 in Boston, MA.
Born May 15, 1880 – Death April 26, 1961