Charles F. Turner

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday Nov. 24, 2013, at Hopewell Baptist Church for Charles F. Turner, 87, of Gainesville. The Rev. Gary Wilson and the Rev. Tim Beasley will officiate. Interment will follow in the Hopewell Baptist Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the Little & Davenport Funeral Home Saturday Nov. 23, 2013, from 2-4 p.m. and again from 6-8 p.m. Mr. Turner died Thursday, Nov. 21, 2013, at his residence following a period of declining health.
Mr. Turner was a native of Tennessee and had lived in Gainesville since 1954. He was born on Dec. 9, 1925, to the late Charles F. Turner Sr. and Elizabeth F. Lippitt Turner in Pelzer, S.C. near Nashville.
In 1930, Mr. Turner's family moved to Nashville. During high school, Charles' love for music led him to start a swing band, playing night clubs, fraternities and sororities. In 1943, Charles entered Georgia Tech, but very soon joined the Navy, training in a program for the Naval Air Corps. While in the Navy, he obtained his Associates Degree. He was discharged in late 1945 when WWII ended. He returned to Nashville, attending Vanderbilt University and again organizing a band playing the saxophone and clarinet. He then attended Business College and obtained a degree in accounting. During this time he met and married Helen Mays in 1946.
In 1948, he accepted a position with Ralston Purina, transferring to Gainesville with the company six years later. While at Purina Mills in Gainesville, Charles again organized a band with his wife Helen as the Helen composed of high school and college students who played with him in local clubs. Many people will remember Charles and Helen with a later band, Whit and Frazier.
Mr. Turner was responsible for starting the first credit union here in Gainesville. He later assisted in starting several credit unions in the area and was the co-founder and president of the Northeast Georgia chapter of Credit Unions. He also coached Little League, leading his team to championship. Mr. Turner was a great lover of sports.
In 1970, Mr. Turner helped create the Northeast Georgia Traffic Club, an association which included rail and truck traffic managers. He retired from Purina Mills in 1988 after 40 years of service. Mr. Turner was past President of Georgia Feed and Grain Association, a member of the American Legion and a member at Hopewell Baptist church.
Mr. Turner was preceded in death by his wife of 59 years on Sept. 14, 2005; one brother, Franklin L. Turner; and one sister, Mary Kate Turner.
He is survived by four sons, Charles F. Turner, III and wife Sue of Gainesville, Stewart O. Turner of Atlanta, Ray Turner and wife Michelle of Dacula and Jason (Jay) Turner and wife Rhonda of Lula; two daughters, Sherron Davis and husband Larry of Gillsville and Teri Myers of Alto; one brother, J. Fred Turner of Nashville, Tenn.; grandchildren, Shelby Smith, Helen Tate, Jason Turner, Matthew Turner, Lauren Turner, Danielle Turner, Daniel Turner, Jason Ingram, Mary Turner, Steven Turner, Torey Chapman, Hannah Turner, Journey Whitlow; great-grandchildren, Rylie Galbraith, Brianna Turner, McKenzie Langley, Allie Turner, Liam Turner, Katelyn Turner, Zoe Turner, Thadyn Ingram, Paisley Farist and Carter Jenkins.
In lieu of flowers the family has asked that memorial contributions be made to Hopewell Baptist Church Ministry of Caring, 5086 Poplar Springs Road, Gainesville, GA 30507. Those wishing to send online condolences may do so at littledavenport.com. Little & Davenport Funeral Home, 355 Dawsonville Highway, SW, Gainesville, GA 30501 is in charge of arrangements.