Martha A. TURNAGE

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Martha TURNAGE Obituary

WILLIAMSBURG - Dr. Martha Ann Turnage, 87, died on Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2010.
Martha grew up in Wake County, N.C., the youngest of Nick and Leona Allen's seven children. She graduated from Wake Forest College and in 1945, married Dr. James Robert Turnage. They settled in Yorktown, Va., to raise their family.
After the death of her husband in 1968, Martha earned a master's degree from William and Mary College and returned to the workforce as the director of the Job Preparedness Center at Virginia Highlands Community College. From there she became a moving force in the Virginia Community College movement, working at Mountain Empire Community College in Big Stone Gap, and J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College in Richmond. She served as Vice- President of George Mason University from 1978-1984, and retired as Vice President at Ohio University in 1992. Dr. Turnage retired to Annapolis, Md., and spent the last 10 years of her life in residence at Chambrel in Williamsburg, Va.
Martha is survived by two daughters, Sherrod Sturrock and husband, Alan of Owings, Md., and Barbara Popovic and husband, Radoje of Chicago, Ill.; two sons, James Russell Turnage of Lanexa, Va., and Charles Clifton Turnage and wife, Nancy of Mechanicsville, Va.; eight grandchildren, Lona, Zora, Paul, Jenny, Iain, Cassie, Bonny, Mitchell; and two great-grandchildren, Elena and Leo.
A graveside service will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 9, at Montlawn Memorial Park, Raleigh, N.C.
Martha requested that memorial donations be made to the scholarship fund she established to help women returning to school to further their education: MECC Foundation for the "Dr. Martha Turnage Scholarship Fund", 3441 Mountain Empire Road, Big Stone Gap, VA 24219.
Arrangements by Amory Funeral Home, Grafton. View and post condolences on our online guestbook at dailypress.com/guestbooks.

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Published by Daily Press from Jan. 8 to Jan. 9, 2010.

Memories and Condolences
for Martha TURNAGE

8 Entries

Kathleen Manley

January 18, 2010

Dear Barbara, Russell and Chip,
I have already send a message to Sherrod so I'll just say I'm so sorry to lose your mother. It is a constant reminder of a passing generation and I will think of her often and miss her. I wish there had been a time to visit but the time that we thought we would get together there was flu epidemic at Chambrel and there was no visitation from anyone outside.
I have seen Russell at the art shows but I think of all of your so often and wish we could have stayed closer in touch.
My very most heartfelt condolonces to all of you and I hope that we will see each other sometime, soon.
Blessing to you and yours,
Kathleen Manley

January 17, 2010

Barbara, Rad, Lona, Zora, Paul and Little Leo: What a remarkable woman, Martha Turnage, was and how accomplished. This is the kind of legacy every parent wants to leave their children and grandchildren. Work hard, accept little, meet the challenges head on and make a difference in the lives of others. Our love and respect, Judy and Dave D.

January 14, 2010

"Through the children you can perceive their parents". How true that statement is: even though we never met mrs. Turnage, we can imagine what a caring mother she was, since we´ve known her daughter, Barbara, for quite some time now.
We want to express our deepest sympathy, not only to Barbara, but to the whole family.
Kerttu Tauriainen-Koper and Phillip W. Koper, Kemijärvi, Finland.

January 12, 2010

My mother was a fellow resident of Martha's at Chambrel for 8 years and Martha attended my church. It was a pleasure to see Martha at Chambrel and church. She was kind to my mother, who was much older, and I am grateful. Maynard Randolph

January 12, 2010

Martha Turnage was an inspiration to many of us. I met her through her daughter, Sherrod, when she invited us to spend time at MECC to develop a children's theatre presentation as part of the arts network there. I learned much from her and send condolences to her family. Karen Newtzie

January 11, 2010

John and I want to express how sorry we are to learn of Martha's sudden passing. Her many personal and professional accomplishments confirm what a keen student of life she was, having lived it so very well. May Martha's great energy and loving spirit warm you forever.
Love,
Mary Jo & John McHugh

Ave/Jane Tombes

January 9, 2010

Martha was a beloved colleague and friend at George Mason and elsewhere. We will miss her energy, intellect, and, most of all, her friendship.

We send our condolences to all the family.

Ave and Jane Tombes

Neil Murphy

January 8, 2010

Martha, you were my predecesor ar Virginia Highlands College. You were kind and thoughtful. You were a good friend. Bless you.

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