Terrinee Gundy is a mom, a sister, an aunt, a friend, a lawyer, a judge, and the daughter of a junkie. Born and raised in Jacksonville, Florida, Terinee’s family life was disrupted by her father’s addiction to crack cocaine, leading to a move to South Georgia that presented its own set of challenges. Despite an early life marked by chaos and dysfunction, Terrinee excelled academically and became the first in her family to graduate from college. She earned her degree from Clark Atlanta University, became a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., and set her sights on a career in law, later earning a Juris Doctorate from the University of Georgia School of Law.
As a young lawyer, Terrinee worked as a state and local tax associate for KPMG and Cox Communications, Inc., respectively. In 2012, she was appointed to the bench of the Magistrate Court of Futon County in Atlanta, Georgia, where she participated in several programs to educate youth and the public about the judicial system. Her passion for improving the lives of others flourished at John Marshall Law School, where she served as an adjunct professor; at the Juvenile Court’s Truancy Intervention Program, where she represented the interests of children as a Guardian Ad Litem; and at many events as a public speaker. Never one to rest on her laurels, Terrinee penned a column in the Atlanta Tribune titled “Meet the Judge,” which sought to humanize judges by sharing interesting facts and personal attributes. Following the success of her column, she created and edited The Municipal Quarterly, a newsletter highlighting current events, efforts by other legal professionals serving the community, and customer service initiatives at the court.
Community-wise, Terrinee has served and partnered with The Andrew Young Foundation, The King Center, the Woodruff Arts Center, the Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta, the National Black Arts Festival, 100 Black Men of Atlanta, and Year Up Atlanta. She has also collaborated with other jurists like DeKalb County State Court Judge J. Antonio DelCampo for his Intervention Program, which focuses on preventing recidivism among young adult criminal offenders.
Despite all her professional accomplishments, Terrinee’s personal story was incomplete until 2022, when she penned a love story about her incredible life. The Daughter of a Junkie: A True Love Story provides a front-row seat to how this powerhouse navigated and overcame traumatic challenges while growing up in the ghetto.
As a working mom, Terrinee Gundy resides in Atlanta, Georgia, with her daughter Mia Michelle and son Kevin. She is represented by Precious Anderson, Esq.