Charles M. Turner

Reidsville - Charles M. Turner, 97, of 157 Meadow Ridge Trail, went home to be with the Lord on Friday, September 17, 2010 at Rockingham County Hospice Home surrounded by his family. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM Monday, September 20, 2010 at Woodmont United Methodist Church with Rev. Charles M. Turner, Jr. and Rev. Carl Johnson officiating. Interment will follow in Reidlawn Cemetery. Mr. Turner was born in Lexington, KY to the late James Seriah and Minnie Clark Turner. He was a proud tackle on the 1931 RSH State Championship football team. In 1937 he graduated from N.C. State University with a BS in Agriculture Engineering. He served Rockingham County faithfully for 37 years as an extension agent receiving the Distinguished Service award in 1972 until his retirement in 1973. Concurrently, he operated his successful dairy with the help of loyal tenant farmers. Retirement was just a word for him as he worked everyday on his beloved Holiday Farm. Charles was an avid sportsman, gardener, lifelong member of Rotary International and Cattleman’s Association. As a Christian and a man of great moral conviction he volunteered at the soup kitchen, transported chemo patients, served as an officer in the early years of Farmers Mutual Insurance Agency, provided vegetables to anyone who he felt needed them and many other volunteer activities. He was a charter member of Woodmont United Methodist Church where he received the United Methodist Men Lifetime Award. He was preceded in death by his wife of 59 years, Catherine Lewis Turner, brothers, William Clark Turner, Bruce Hart Turner, James S. Turner and sister, Rosetta Turner Knight. Survivors include his wife, Helen Turner of the home; sons, Charles M. Turner, Jr. (Connie) of Booneville, James S. Turner (Mary) of Reidsville; daughters, Mary Turner Sharpe (Bob) of Statesville and Rosie Turner Chrisco (Freddy) of Reidsville; stepchildren, Lisa Bowman Moore (Mark) and Steve Bowman (Lisa) all of Reidsville, Cynthia Bowman Bender (Jeff) of Somerset, PA.; grandchildren, Gabby McLaughlin (Eric) of Statesville, Scott Sharpe of Charlotte, Charles M. Turner, III of New York City, Christy Turner of Greensboro, Mary Elise Turner McNaught (David) of Greensboro, Adam Chrisco (Whitney), Daniel Chrisco, James Seth Turner and Merrill Ann Turner of Reidsville; step grandchildren, Blake Hundley of Roanoke, Va., Hillary Hundley, Landon Bowman (Susan), Austin Bowman, T.J. Bowman, Bradley Bowman, Leslie Moore Haynes (Daniel), Mark Lee Moore all of Reidsville, Brenna and Morgan Bailey of Somerset, PA.; great grandchildren, Matthew and Joseph McLaughlin of Statesville, Daelan McNaught of Greensboro and Benjamin Chrisco of Reidsville; special nephews, Clark Turner (Susan) of Reidsville, Eddie Turner (Nikki) of Thessaloniki, Greece and niece, Sharon Denis (John) of Sacramento, CA. The family will receive friends Sunday, September 19, 2010 from 6-8 PM at Wilkerson Funeral Home and other times at the residence. In lieu of flowers the family request donations be made to Hospice of Rockingham County, PO Box 281, Wentworth North Carolina 27375. Our eternal gratitude to the kindness and dignity in which they cared for our father.