Rebecca Jo Turner

1933 - 2026

Rebecca Jo Turner, better known as Jo Turner, passed on to her Savior, Jesus Christ, on the morning of March 20, 2026 at Saint Vincent North in Sherwood, AR after a brief illness. She was born in East Whelen Springs on May 23, 1933 to Silas and Esther Williams.

She is preceded in death by her parents and sister Mary Bourne, and daughter-in-law Doris Turner.  She is survived by husband, Olen Turner, after 74 years of marriage.

She is survived by three sons: Sam Turner of Emmet, AR; Michael (Ivette) Turner of Green Castle, MO; John (Andrea) Turner of Monroe, LA; and the following five grandchildren: Matthew (Gail) Turner; Mark (Susan) Turner; John (Charlotte) Turner; Jacob (Jenny) Turner; and Annabel Jolene Turner. She has one Great Grandchild, Hunter James Turner. She is also survived by sister Martha Carrouth of Little Rock, AR and brother, Silas Adrian (Nedra) Williams of Whelen Springs, AR.  She is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews.

When in High School, Jo had many friends and had a very good academic record and was selected as a member of the National Honor Society. She graduated from Gurdon High School in June of 1951 and married her high school sweetheart, Olen Turner, in November of that same year.

Jo was a loving wife and full time homemaker, mother of three cherished sons and was honored by her three daughters-in-law. She was a precious grandmother and great grandmother. She came from a close family with loving parents and siblings and remained close to her siblings as they aged. In later years, she was a loving neighbor to the Steeds and McCarvers and helped baby sit their sons who lovingly called her Ojo.

In her lifetime, she was always active in church wherever she lived. She was a Sunday school teacher, Vacation Bible School Director, and Secretary and Treasure of several churches. She had a beautiful alto voice and loved singing gospel songs. She was also very knowledgeable about the Bible. One of her favorite saying was “Always be Truthful”.

Graveside Services will be Sunday at the Turner Cemetery Pavilion, along Hwy 368 near Reader, AR at 4pm.