|
Obituary
“Be faithful even unto the point of death and I will give you a crown of life.” ~ Revelation 2:10 Mamie Effie Alston Turner, a quiet but determined woman, was born on March 7, 1916 in Wake County, North Carolina to (the late) John Edward (“Eddie”) Alston and Lillie Callie Brandon -- both of North Carolina. Mamie was one of nine children that blessed this union.
Her father was a sharecropper which meant that Mamie was required to work along with the other members of her family when needed. While Mamie lived in North Carolina, she attended elementary school in Wake and Nash counties. When she was ten years old, her family moved to Dinwiddie, Virginia; there, the fees for the segregated school system resulted in her and only three of her brothers being able to attend school. She was an active member of Mount Level Baptist Church of Dinwiddie.
Mamie married her sweetheart, William Branch Turner. Together they became the proud parents of four children -- three daughters: Ella Dunn, Laura Chapman and Grace Tracy; and a son, William Turner.
The family moved to Brooklyn, New York in the 1940s. Mamie made sure her children were exposed to all of the free educational opportunities available in the area. She supported her family by doing domestic work, and once her last child graduated high school, she returned to school and earned her high school diploma, setting a strong learning ethic for her grandchildren to come. All of her children and many of her grandchildren have gone on to earn higher education degrees. After graduating high school, Mamie took a position with the United States Postal Service from which she retired.
Mamie has been an active member of Cornerstone Baptist Church in Brooklyn for sixty-three years, first under the Rev. Dr. Sandy F. Ray and now under Rev. Lawrence E. Aker, III. She was active in bible study, and served on the Missionary Board, the Pulpit Committee, and the Rodman Council. She played an active role in the NAACP bringing in 100-plus members. She enjoyed traveling, and one of her most memorable trips was to the Holy Land where she was baptized in the Jordan River.
Though preceded to glory by her daughter Grace Tracy, her son William Turner, a granddaughter Verlina Edwards, and great-grandson Nathaniel Dunn; Mamie is survived by her daughters: Ella Dunn (Brooklyn, NY) and Laura Chapman (Morrisville, NC); a daughter-in-law Adeline Turner {William} (Upland, California); her grandchildren: Martin Dunn, Dr. Robbin Chapman, Steven Dunn, April Chapman-St. Luce {Phillipe}, Eric Tracy and Terrance Tracy {Paula}, eight great-grandchildren, eight great-great-grandchildren, and one great-great-great-grandchild. |
|
Obituary Mamie Alston Turner |
|
Mamie E. Turner Sunrise Sunset March 7, 1916 February 16, 2016 |