Virginia Dare Turner

Virginia Dare Rowe Turner was born to the union of William McKinley Rowe and Emma Mathilda Ware on December 16, 1923, in Anniston, Alabama. Virginia was the second of three children born to this union, arriving a few minutes after the birth of her twin sister, Sydney Dale Rowe Harvey. A year and a few months later, their younger sister Jean Rowe McLinn joined them. Virginia grew up in Anniston, Alabama where she matriculated from elementary through high school. She described her mother Emma, who was a principal at Twelfth Street School, and affectionately referred to as Nan by her friends, as the most beautiful and inspiring person she had ever known. Virginia received her B. S. degree from Bennett College in Greensboro, North Carolina, following a brief attendance at Hampton Institute, but preferring Bennett for the courses offered. Virginia received her M. A. degree in Home Economics from Wayne University in Detroit, Michigan where she and her twin sister Sydney attended classes. During their studies at Wayne, the sisters resided with their Uncle Sam and his wife Onteel. Virginia described this time as busy with classes but happy indeed with family and the beauty of Detroit with avenues of trees and brisk street cars. Virginia also completed advanced studies at the University of Wisconsin. Virginia returned to Anniston, where she worked as an elementary teacher at Twelfth Street School under her mother Emma, who remained as principal. While teaching in Anniston, Virginia met Second Lieutenant Joel Varnell Turner, who was stationed briefly in Alabama and who later served in Korea, during the Korean Conflict. The couple met at a tea, eventually courting, followed by their marriage on a Wednesday afternoon, October 26, 1955. Lieutenant Turner served eight years in the U.S. Army, including his time in ROTC during college, and following his honorable discharge from the US Army where he had attained the rank of Captain, and his graduation from dental school at Meharry Medical College, he and Virginia departed for his hometown of Tucson, Arizona where they would reside together for the next 63 years until Joel's death in November 2018. In October 2018, they celebrated their sixth-third wedding anniversary. Virginia had described her mother as the most beautiful and inspiring person she had ever known, however, friends and family would use those same adjectives to describe her. Virginia was a person who embodied grace, and love for people, animals, and nature. She disliked seeing anyone mistreated, whether a person or an animal. She loved the beauty of nature. She loved listening to classical music, jazz and the music often played on one of her favorite shows, Lawrence Welk. Virginia loved game shows, including Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune, but she was also serious about keeping abreast of issues by turning on the MacNeil Lehrer News Hour on PBS. Virginia enjoyed playing Bridge with her husband Joel and their friends. Virginia loved cooking and baking. In early 1970, Virginia decided her three children were old enough where she could resume teaching. She applied for a teaching position at Pima Community College in Tucson, Arizona. Virginia taught nutrition and cooking classes at Pima Community College for well over thirty years. She loved teaching and would spend extra time helping students who were struggling as she often said, she wanted every student to pass. Eventually, retirement beckoned, which Virginia embraced by continuing her travels with Joel, including many visits to her three children who were scattered across the country. Virginia had grown up in the Congregational Church, and she and Joel became charter members of The Church of The Painted Hills in Tucson, Arizona. Virginia was devoted to the Lord God and his Holy Son Jesus Christ. No meal was taken without first a prayer of thanks to the Lord. No day ended without a prayer of thanks to the Lord. Virginia was devoted to her three children and her three grandchildren. Virginia completed her purpose in life at 6:06 am on the twentieth of May 2024. Virginia was preceded in death by her parents. She leaves to cherish her memory, her children, Joel Turner, Jr. (daughter-in-law Carla), Sydney Turner (son-in-law, Robert Beno), Stuart Turner, grandchildren, Antoine Smith, Arielle Jackson (Dr. Okanta Jackson), Deidra Turner, and her three spirited great-grandchildren, Neiko, Nolan and Dezii; her beloved twin sister Sydney Harvey, and beloved younger sister Jean McLinn; her beloved half-brother Elmon Goodson, her nephews Charles Harvey, who spent almost every afternoon at her bedside following her surgeries and Raymond Harvey, who visited many times; niece and nephew Virginia McLinn and Dale McLinn, who stayed with her briefly when they were youngsters; Austin McLinn, nephew Michael Jolivet, niece Leslie Jolivet and grand-niece Simone Manuel, who would check in on her in Tucson, brother-in-law William Pitts, who would call her often from California, nephew Duane Goodson and niece Karen Goodson, and a host of friends including Mike and Nannette Turner, who although not related shared the same surname and would regularly check on her upon their return to Tucson from New York; Fannie Hansberry, childhood friend; Kristy Cyr and Ed, who regularly took her to the gym in Tucson; Marylyn and Gene Tobey who shared her love of the Lord; Arlene Stevens, Rose Carroll, Barbara Keaveney, Janet Myles, a lunch group buddy and so many others.

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Virginia Dare Turner

December 16, 1923 - May 20, 2024