Billy Joe Turnage

Billy Joe Turnage, age 86, of Blairsville, GA, passed away peacefully at his home on Saturday afternoon, August 9, 2025 following an extended illness. Billy was born on September 21, 1938 in Donalsonville, in southwest Georgia. He was the son of the former Alfred Lewis and Allie Mae Odom Turnage of Desser in Seminole County. He is survived by his loving wife, Sylvia Dyer Turnage of Choestoe, Georgia, his daughter Karen Turnage Merrill of San Diego, and his son Andrew Lewis Turnage of Blairsville.

Billy moved to Druid Hills in Atlanta to find work in 1955. He was a 1961 graduate of Hoke Smith Evening High School. Billy graduated Suma Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Arts from from Beulah Heights Bible College in Atlanta in 1975 and was inducted into the Beta Eta Beta Kappa Honor Society.

While working as a clerk at A&P Grocery, he met a beautiful Dyer girl from Blairsville who walked past the storefront daily on the way to her job at the Fulton National Bank. The two married in 1958 and could often be found cruising Peachtree Street listening to Elvis in his ’56 Ford on their way to The Varsity. Sylvia stayed by his side for richer and poorer, through good times and bad, in sickness and in health for 67 years.

Billy was drafted into the United States Army in 1961. His tour of service began with the U.S. military’s mobilization during the Cuban sugar blockade and included domestic stations in Fort Chaffee in Arkansas, Fort Bliss in Texas, Fort Sill in Oklahoma, and Fort Benning in Columbus. He earned two rifle sharpshooter medals during service and was honorably discharged.

Billy retired as a Personnel Manager from the Department of the Interior, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service with 25 years of service in the southeast region office. Following retirement, he moved to Blairsville and opened the Choestoe Store at US Hwy 129 and Hwy 180 selling local crafts and produce. He pursued his favorite hobbies of photography, shooting, and making t-shirts.

In retirement, Billy was active in the community. Billy began the Union County Taxpayer’s Association and joined the Union County Republican Party, later serving as Chair. Billy was Union County’s first Republican candidate for school board. He was passionate about registering voters and encouraging others to engage in government.

Billy made sharing his faith in Jesus Christ a central point of his life, service, and worship. He was a member of Pine Top Baptist Church in Choestoe where, prior to his illness, he faithfully attended and taught Sunday School. Billy was a former member of House of Prayer Church in Blairsville for 30 years where he started a food bank and clothing ministry for the surrounding area. Billy led the Interagency Devotional Group at the Richard B. Russell Federal Building weekly from 1979-1988. He was a former member of the Assembly of God Tabernacle in Decatur in the 1980’s where he and his wife Sylvia taught children’s church for more than a decade, and was a former member of Life and Praise Tabernacle in the 1960’s.

Visitation will be Thursday, August 14, 2025 from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm at Cochran-McDaniel Funeral Home in Blairsville. Celebration of life services will be held at Cochran-McDaniel Funeral Home on Saturday, August 16, 2025 at 2:00 p.m. Interment will follow at Pine Top Baptist Church Cemetery.

Music will be provided by The Collins Family. Pallbearers: Billy’s nephews Sheriff Shawn Dyer, Aubrey Dyer, Kenny Akins, Rev. Chris McDonald, and Lt. Col. Todd McDonald, as well as Brian Paquette his daughter Karen’s fiancé.

For those wishing to contribute in honor Billy’s life, donations can be made to the Gideons International, or to the Georgia Mountain Food Bank, in honor of Billy J. Turnage.