Rosemary Turnage

1925 - 2025

Rosemary Turnage

May 1, 1925 - February 28, 2025

Farmville, North Carolina - Rosemary Holmes Turnage of Farmville, NC, died Friday, February 28, 2025 – 62 days before her One Hundredth Birthday. Rosemary was born in Opelika, Alabama, on May 1, 1925, the daughter of The Reverend Earl W. Holmes and Lillian Bertie Holmes. She was predeceased by her parents, her sister Dorothy Holmes Crews, and her husband Bernice Benjamin Turnage.

From an early age, Rosemary demonstrated both a love of – and a tremendous facility for -- music. She graduated from Limestone College in Gaffney, SC, with a double major in voice and English. She relocated to Raleigh, NC, where she taught for two years and sang with the Raleigh Little Theater.

When Rosemary's father became the Minister at Farmville Baptist Church in Farmville, NC, she moved east and joined her parents. Shortly after she arrived, Rosemary was invited to sing for the local Kiwanis club. Her escort to the event was a handsome and highly decorated Marine Pilot, recently home from World War II. Things unfolded quickly, a previous beau was jettisoned, and Rosemary married Bernice Benjamin Turnage on June 15, 1948.

In time, Rosemary accepted the role as Director of Music at First Baptist Church of Farmville. She gladly served in that capacity for 47 years. Twice she led The Farmville Community Chorus in a Christmas performance of Handel's "Messiah."

Her love of music extended far beyond the walls of the church. She taught scores of voice students – both youth and adult – to sing, or at least to sing better. She was one of the moving forces behind Farmville's Musicale – an evening of entertainment designed to raise money for students in the East Carolina University School of Music. She was also the music director for a community performance of "Oklahoma!" and many others.

Rosemary participated in the work of the Farmville Arts Council and was active in the effort to restore the Farmville Hardware (formerly the Turnage Company) building. She was elected Farmville "Woman of the Year" in 1985.

Three children survive Mrs. Turnage: Laura Turnage McNair (married to Frank), Carl Turnage (married to Jennifer), and Beth Turnage Biesel (married to Bill). She is survived by Beth and Bill's children: Elizabeth Biesel, Will Biesel, and Emily Biesel Deerin (married to David), and by Carl and Jennifer's children: Dean Gibson and Savannah Gibson.

The family thanks these special people who made it possible for Mrs. Turnage to live out her life at home. Each of you made life infinitely better for our mother: Geraldine Garner, Robert Jones, Lora Evans, Sybil Greene, Alice Brown, and Fanny Rouse. Thank you also to the multitudes who sent cards, came by for a visit, or baked a special treat. You made a tremendous difference.

Worship Service and Celebration of Life at First Baptist Church in Farmville at 2 PM, Thursday, March 6. Visitation is at 1 PM in the Church Sanctuary.

Memorial gifts may be made to: Farmville Baptist Church, 3653 E. Wilson St., Farmville, NC 27828, or ECU Foundation, ECU School of Music, Mail Stop 506, Greenville, NC 27858. No flowers, please.

Online condolences may be made at www.farmvillefh.com.

Arrangements are by Farmville Funeral Home.