Funeral services were held Nov. 28 at Mount Olive Baptist Church, Jersey City, for Terry Ridley. A son, brother, father, friend and lawyer, he passed away Nov. 22. He was the second of six sons of Fay Hope (Hampton) and the late Moses Ridley. Terry attended Lincoln High for two years and received a scholarship from A Better Chance, Inc. to attend Vermont Academy, a private boarding school in Vermont. After graduating from Vermont Academy, Terry attended the University of Vermont in Burlington, Vermont. In 1979, Terry graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in History/Secondary Education. Terry received a Master’s degree in Urban Planning at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia in 1981. Terry attended Rutgers Law School in Newark as a part time evening student. He worked as a law clerk for the law firm of Ashley and Charles, Esq. while attending Rutgers. After graduating and upon admission to the Bar, he was employed as an Assistant Prosecutor in the Office of the Hudson County Prosecutor in Jersey City.
After three years with the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office, Terry returned to Ashley and Charles as an Associate. In 1995 Terry cofounded the firm of Hunt, Hamlin and Ridley. Terry has had many highlights throughout his legal career, including substantial jury verdicts and/or settlements. He also successfully represented people charged with criminal offenses in state and federal courts. Terry loved to read, write, travel and watch sports, especially his favorite team, with his ‘little’ brother Troy, the Dallas Cowboys. They often got together on Thanksgiving Day, with other family members, to watch the annual game.
Terry was preceded in death by his father, Moses Ridley, his uncles Herbert Hampton, Donald Hampton, Ronald Hampton, Marc Hampton and Donald Ridley. Terry is survived by his wife Sekina Rodgers; daughters Monique Nicole and Lauren Marie, mother Fay Ridley; five brothers Moses Jr. (Stephanie), Michael, Bruce, Derrick and Troy (Tama); three stepchildren, Russell Lateefa and Yusef Thomas. Uncles, Robert, William, Edward and Ray Hampton, Aunts Dolores Gray and Sherry Ridley; nephews Rashard, Christen, and Troy Jr.; mother in law Ingrid Rodgers; brothers in law, Keaon, Aaron, Derrick, and Shannon Rodgers; sisters in laws Tanea Felder Crystal, Shonda, Michelle, Felicia, and Dynaya Rodgers; godsons Alterique Crawford, and Theodore Dolinson Jr.; goddaughter, Jasmine Myers; law partners Raymond Hamlin, Ronald Hunt and the staff at the law firm of Hunt, Hamlin and Ridley; close friend Theodore Dolinson; and many other relatives, friends, and colleagues too numerous to name. Services arranged by the Jackson Funeral Residence, Jersey City.