At the end of this year, Terry Peace will retire from her position as senior vice president of the Group and Individual Division of BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina. After 26 years at BlueCross, it is no secret that she has made an impact on the company and the community. 

Peace found her passion for improving the health of women and children after receiving her nursing degree from University of South Carolina Upstate. She also received a Bachelor of Arts degree in business from Columbia College, which gave her expertise she would later use both here and on the boards of directors for several nonprofits. 

She served on the board of the American Heart Association, the South Carolina Chapter of the March of Dimes and the Saluda Shoals Foundation. She was also the chairman of the Go Red for Women board, a movement that supports women affected by heart disease. In 2016, Peace was recognized as one of the Outstanding Women of Distinction by the Girl Scouts of South Carolina – Mountains to Midlands for her dedication to leadership and service. 

Throughout her career, Peace served as a mentor and role model for others in the company. Susan Surratt, director of special projects for Group and Individual, said, “I have worked with Terry for almost 15 years, and I have admired the balance she has between work, community and family. This is something everyone strives to achieve, and she makes it look easy. She goes out of her way to encourage employee involvement and to support corporate campaigns, whether that means riding a tricycle or having a pie thrown at her face!” 

When asked what advice she wants to leave behind, Peace said, “I want to encourage young people to get involved. Giving doesn’t always have to be monetary, but giving your time is just as valuable. There is a great need for support all across South Carolina, and everyone should take advantage of opportunities to help others. BlueCross is a company that is ingrained in the community, and that has made it easy for me to follow my passions and to make time for giving back.” 

After retirement, Peace plans to continue volunteering. She hopes to be more involved with The Chapin We Care Center, an organization that provides basic necessities for those in need. Peace also plans to remain active with her church and spend more time with her family, including her two grandchildren.

Peace’s strong decision-making, work ethic and passion for helping others shaped her into a role model and leader, and led to a successful career at BlueCross.
 

Dec. 17, 2019