It seems we are losing LaSalle Parish’s cherished treasures at a rapid pace. Each year, we are faced with the reality that many of our prized citizens, leaders and much-loved friends are departing this world for a greater place. Such was the case last week when we learned of the passing of Terri Corley. There has never been a more adoring person to ever serve in LaSalle Parish politics than Mrs. Terri, although she would never allow me to describe her as a politician.
I first met Terri Corley back in the early 1990’s. I was a young, know-it-all reporter assigned to cover the town council meetings of Olla, Urania and Tullos. I guess I really didn’t know what to think about Urania’s new mayor, Terri Corley. She was unlike any of the other mayors I’d been around, in fact, I dare say she was the most different mayor I’ve even known – period – and still is to this day.
What made her different was her personality, her attitude and her love for every person she came in contact with. She was always smiling and had the best interest of her town at heart in every decision she made. There was not a hateful bone in her body and she was the most genuine person I’d ever met.
Mrs. Terri loved everyone in the parish but had a special place in her heart for the north LaSalle area, specifically her beloved town of Urania. She shared the sentiment of Urania’s founder, Henry Hardtner, who believed it to be the most beautiful piece of land in America.
She also believed in honoring her elders. I was invited on multiple occasions to come to the morning coffee sessions with Mrs. Terri’s appointed “Knotheads” but sadly, I never had the time. She adored those patriarchs and always recognized them at events. She wept bitterly at the passing of each one of those men.
Under Mrs. Terri’s leadership, the Town of Urania accomplished so much. There wasn’t a month that went by where she was not planning something, working on a project or setting in motion future plans to elevate the town in some way.
With the historic cabin in the town park nearly falling down, Mrs. Terri led a campaign to restore it and revitalize the park with new equipment and renamed it in honor of one of Urania’s patriarch’s, Potty Tannehill. Today, the Potty Tannehill Memorial Park in Urania is used by hundreds of people each year.
Another one of her prized accomplishments was the formation of the annual Urania Homecoming. She loved Urania’s citizens so much that she decided to hold a homecoming celebration and invited every former Urania citizen who had moved off for various reasons to return. While there were activities at the homecoming, the greatest thrill to Mrs. Terri was the visiting that occurred. She loved to see former residents and loved to sit and hear their stories. I’ll never forget the excitement in her voice when she told me before that first homecoming that they were going to light a fire and smoke would be coming out of the old Urania Lumber Company smokestack.
Of course, there were many other accomplishments, like building the Urania Town Square and starting the Santa in the Park event and renovating the Urania Recreation Hall. She also loved hosting the annual Veterans’ Breakfast and the Urania Senior Citizens Dinner.
Being the mayor of a small town is unlike any other job in the world. A smalltown mayor must wear many hats, from economic developer to crisis management director, like when neighbors dispute about music being played too loud. But no matter what the role, Mrs. Terri somehow managed to perform her job to perfection. Even if she was aggravated at someone, they never knew it. She was granted by God a very unique skill set that allowed her to extend grace and mercy even to her enemies (although I can’t imagine she had any!).
When Georgia-Pacific closed the mill in Urania and the town lost hundreds of jobs – it thrust Mrs. Terri into a position she’d never experienced. She was mayor of a town that for the first time ever didn’t have an identity. She was mayor of a town that was established by a sawmill but now had nothing timber related. But despite the pain and heartache during those tough years, she persevered and maintained a level of optimism that was unmatched. Privately, she mourned those depressed years but held out hope that one day things would change and Urania would thrive once again.
And sure enough, most likely because of the many prayers she offered on the town’s behalf, things did change. And boy did they change! The LaSalle Correctional Center opened in Urania. Hardtner Medical Center began expanding. Then the sawmill returned with LaSalle Lumber Company followed by Drax’s pellet plant. Before it was all said and done, Urania is now home to some of the parish’s largest employers. Mrs. Terri’s perseverance and prayers paid off, and it was the Town of Urania that reaped the results.
There will never be another Terri Corley. There will never be another mayor like Terri Corley. And there will never be another friend like Terri Corley.
She was truly “one-of-a-kind” and my life was blessed to have known her.
In this day and age when elected officials are more concerned with their social media image, their personal bank accounts and their own selfish desires, my how we could use more Terri Corley’s. A true servant of God and the people, whose greatest desire was to simply do the right thing and help everyone she could.
Yes, LaSalle Parish continues to lose its most cherished treasures: Not gold, silver, timber or even oil – but people – the some of the finest people ever to be born.
Our comfort is found in knowing she loved the Lord, served the Lord and the fact that she will never have to deal with cancer or its effects again.
Henry Hardtner named the small northwest area of LaSalle Urania, which means, “heavenly.” On Monday, February 1, 2026, Terri Corley moved from one heaven to another.
