Morgan Elbertus Turner Jr

Morgan Elbertus “BERT" Turner Jr.

Bert Turner, affectionately known as “pumpkin man”; “the peach man”, papa and dad took his final earthly breath at age 83, surrounded by his loving family and friends on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, three weeks after his last Halloween birthday.

Born on October 31, 1942, it seemed fitting that he would always be interested in agriculture, growing pumpkins’ peaches, apples, and other crops. He was a man of toil, a man of the soil, doing what he loved, tending God’s creations.

He is predeceased by his mother, Bess Lloyd Turner, father, Morgan E Turner Sr, and wife, Peggy Leigh Turner. He is survived by his devoted daughter, with whom he had an unbreakable bond, Dixie Leigh Turner McDowell, her husband, Joee, and their twin girls, Morgan Leigh and Olivia Renée. He is also survived by his dedicated and faithful best friend and caregiver, Ann Hines, and his adopted family, Debbie Huddleston, her children, Emiliano and Samuel, who also cared for him the last 3 years, making it possible for him stay in his own home, where he was comfortable and received attention and love. Through hard times, this family stood by us and with us, never giving up on the man whom they saw as a true friend, love and guide in their lives.

He is survived by his sister, Ann Lloyd Turner Linares, niece, Katherine Linares, and great nephew Ghazi Mohammad -Jones. He is also survived by his brother-in-law, Buddy Tucker, and wife, Ann with whom he had grown closer with in the last year.

He leaves behind many friends, with whom he shared knowledge about growing vegetables, raising peaches, putting your best effort forward and never stopping until the job is done right. He was a man of great faith, reading his bible and devotions daily, kneeling each night to pray, leading his family in the prayer, leading by example to raise his daughter to follow Jesus all of her life.

Bert was born in Richmond Virginia and grew up in Burkeville. He graduated from Burkeville Elementary, then Crewe High School. He attended Hampden Sydney College briefly. Due to a change in his family situation. he found himself on his own, so he had to make his own way in the world. He took a job with Mr. Elliott Boswell, father of his friend Jack Boswell, managing the Greenland Farm and Orchard. It was quite a challenge to combine his studies with his work schedule. He continued his studies at Longwood university and then RPI, now VCU. He was always serious about his education, even taking evening and Saturday classes. He also took technical classes at SVCC. Even with the hardships of being on his own at a young age and with no family support, Bert persevered and became the manager at Sunny slope Orchard in the 1970s. He remained dedicated to the management of Sunny Slope Orchard for 40 years. A heart attack made it difficult for him to maintain the pace of duties after that time.

He moved to Crewe in 2000, to his wife’s family home, but the work didn’t stop then. He planted 30 peach trees and blackberry bushes, which continue to bear fruit and his legacy lives on with Dixie and her family.

Bert was a planner and was always prepared for any projects we took on. Bert was always a giving person. He shared his resources with many during his life’s journey. He received substantial monetary gift one Christmas, which he passed right on to a lady whose water had been cut off. He felt her need at that time was greater than his. His own early financial struggles made him keenly aware of the struggles of others. He always taught his daughter that the best gift is in giving without expectation of receiving. You could always find he and Dixie together- whether it delivering peaches, daffodils; tomatoes; pumpkins, and Christmas goodies to friends and those who needed a “Turner blessing” He and Peggy‘s examples of sharing and giving to others in the community helped shape Dixie into the mother, wife, social worker and community member she is.

After years of struggling with Parkinson’s disease and later dementia, he never gave up and overcame many challenges of his physical and mental decline. We know without a doubt that he is with Jesus, sharing his wisdom, kindness, and fruit with those with him in heaven. We find comfort and peace in knowing his mind and body are new, his health restored, and he will be waiting at the gate for his family and friends who are believers in Jesus Christ.

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