Minnie J.L. Turner

"The Lord is my shepherd I shall not want." (Psalms 23:1)

Mrs. Minnie Jane Lockett Turner, of 913 Covington Court, Waverly, VA 23890, departed this life into eternal rest on Wednesday, Dec. 22, 2010, in her residence.

Mrs. Minnie was born Sept. 27, 1917, in Windsor, N.C., to the late Andrew Lockett and Josephine Bazemore Lockett Parham. She was educated in the Bertie County School System, North Carolina, and high school in Halifax, N.C. Mrs. Minnie's immediate family migrated from North Carolina to Virginia. Some years later Mrs. Minnie married the late John Horace Turner on Nov. 24, 1938, and from this union 12 children were born. She was employed temporarily at Presson and Warthan. Mrs. Minnie was a member of Senior Citizens Eastern Sussex County and she served faithfully for over 30 years. She was awarded first-place senior queen in October 1996 and 1998, and second place in 1995. She loved to travel so she attended the Eastern Sussex and Western Sussex meetings. Mrs. Minnie devoted her life to her husband and children. She was a member of Rising Star Holiness Church in Waverly, Va., where she served for many years. She later joined First Baptist Church in Waverly, Va., where she served faithfully until her health declined in 2009.

Mrs. Minnie was preceded in death by her son, James Earl Turner; husband, John Horace Turner; sons, Mac Arthur Turner, Willie Turner, Horace Turner Jr. and Linwood Turner. She was preceded in death by her stepfather, Gayle Parham, and stepsister, Mary Francis Cooper. She was also preceded in death by a grandson, Ricky Garrett; a granddaughter, Catrena Neal; and a great-granddaughter, Kenya Neal.

She leaves to cherish her memories two stepsisters, Barbara Hunter of Greensboro, N.C., and Jean Wright of Philadelphia; six sons, Leroy Turner (Janice), Leslie Turner, Edward Turner (Yvonne), Joseph Turner, all of Waverly, Va., Wilbert Turner (Sheila) of Chesterfield, Va., Ernest Turner (Justine); and one daughter, Adrienne Turner of Waverly, Va.; four daughters-in-law, Merle Boone of Chuckatuk, Va., Freddie Turner of Suffolk, Va., Britton Turner and Lucy Turner, both of Waverly, Va. Her fond memories are held dear by 27 grandchildren, 43 great-grandchildren, eight great-great-grandchildren and two great-great-great-grandchildren; a host of nieces, nephews, and other relatives; adopted children are Evangelist Mariah Mason, Mavis Mitchell, Tony Williams, Leslie Bailey, Pauline Cottemond Burnett. Before her passing, Mrs. Minnie was the oldest living member from the "Goose Ally Community."

A funeral service will be held noon Wednesday, Dec. 29, 2010, at the First Baptist Church, Waverly. The Rev. Kenneth Lee, pastor, will officiate and the the Rev. Samuel Robinson will eulogize. The interment will be held in the church cemetery.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the staff of William N. Bland and Son Funeral Home, Petersburg. For further information you may visit our website at www.blandenterprisesinc.com.