Hammond Curry Turner

Hammond Curry Turner, 87, Huntsville, passed away Wednesday, April 26, 2017.
Curry was preceded in death by his parents, Henry Peters Turner and Carlyn Hillsman Turner; brother, Henry Peters Turner Jr., and Daniel Harris Turner; sister, Nancy Gail McClure; and son-in-law, Edward Alan Burks.
Curry was descended from early settlers of Madison County. He graduated from Monrovia High School and attended the University of Alabama. In 1949, he married Naomi Landers, his high school sweetheart. He was employed by Beatrice Foods as CFO. He was a member of the Huntsville Sertoma Club, Quarterback Club, Downtown Development Association, Huntsville Track Club (running in five marathons), Sons of the American Revolution, Sons of Confederate Veterans, vice president of the military Heritage Commission, Chairman of the Board of Special Forces Society, Huntsville, Wall of Honor, president of the Monrovia High School Alumni Association.
In 1980, he moved to Gadsden, Alabama, where he was district manager for Beatrice Foods. He was a member of the Gadsden Country Club, served on the YMCA Board, BIGMEN, the Red Cross Board, United Way Allocation, Gadsden Chamber of Commerce, Track Club and served as president of Gadsden/Rainbow City Coin Club, served on the board of the Coosa Valley Chapter Military Officers Association. He was inducted into the Patriots Hall of Fame in Gadsden in 2009.
In 1947, he began his military service with the U.S. Naval Reserve. He entered the Army in 1950 and served in the Korean Conflict in 1951. He attained the rank of colonel, serving 18 years with the 20th Special Forces 82nd Airborne Division, and commanded "A," "B," "C" teams and Battalion. He also served as Assistant Chief of Staff with a Corps Support Command. He was awarded Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation, Alabama Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Korean Service Medal with 4 Bronze Campaign Stars and United Nations Service Medal. He served with the Alabama National Guard. In 1971, a chapter of the Airborne Association of the U.S. was named for him. He served a total of 43 years in the service. While serving as a paratrooper, he made a total of 179 jumps. He was a graduate of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas; Career Infantry Office Course, Fort Benning, Georgia; Basic Airborne School, Fort Benning, Georgia; Advanced Airborne School, Fort Campbell, Kentucky; and attended 101st Airborne, US Army Special Warfare School, Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
Survivors include his wife of 68 years, Naomi Landers Turner; daughters, Lind Turner Burks and Carlyn Turner Deeds (John); grandsons, Turner Alan Burks and Parker Hammond Burks; sister, Barbara Brosemer; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be from noon to 1:30 p.m. Friday at Laughlin Service Funeral Home, Huntsville. A graveside service will follow at 2 p.m. at Maple Hill Cemetery. (www.laughlinservice.com)
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Burks, Hosier, Nelson Scholarship Fund at the University of Alabama, Box 578, Guntersville, AL 35976 or Hospice of the Valley, 240 Johnston St., SE, Decatur, AL 35601.