Thelma Rosetta Brawley Turner
Sunrise March 26, 1950 - Sunset January 14, 2021
Thelma (fondly known as Aunt T and Ma T) Turner was born to David Emery and Rosetta Summers Brawley on March 26, 1950 in Statesville, NC. She departed her earthly life on January 14, 2021 at 4:44 am in Marietta, GA. Thelma was the youngest of five children. She was preceded in death by her parents, and her siblings Lucy Brawley Moore, Oscar Lewis Brawley, and Malinda Lane Brawley.
She leaves to cherish her memory two children, Monica L Turner of Seattle, WA, Lemuel D. Turner Jr. (Lana) of Acworth, GA and her grandson, Jordon Turner, also of Acworth, GA. She also leaves her sister, Vivian Brawley Williams (Odell) of Statesville, NC. Also cherishing her memory is her lifelong friend LaFonda Blair of Statesville, NC, who was as close as a sister and a host of nieces, nephews, relatives, classmates, and friends.
Thelma was baptized at Mount Pleasant AME Zion Church at an early age. She was educated in the segregated public schools of Statesville and Iredell County where she graduated from the Morningside High School in 1968. After graduation Thelma married Lemuel D. Turner (deceased). The two were the proud parents of Monica and Lemuel Jr. Thelma and Lemuel Sr. were married for over thirty years before dissolution. They remained friends and neither remarried. Lemuel preceded Thelma in death.
As a military spouse, Thelma travelled with Lemuel to nine different states including Florida, Utah, and Arkansas. Always the scientist at heart Thelma took the opportunity to enroll in an Associate of Nursing Program at the University of Arkansas Science Center and graduated in 1982. She received her BSN in nursing from Chapman University of California.
Thelma entered the profession and served as a registered nurse across the United States including St. Joseph Hospital in Wichita, KS, Good Samaritan, and VA Hospitals in Dayton, OH, St. Elizabeth Hospital in Ogden, UT, DePaul Hospital in Cheyenne, WY, and she retired from Kennestone General Hospital in Marietta, GA. Thelma was a member of multiple clubs and organizations including the Philippine Nurses Association of Georgia.
Thelma had several hobbies including cruising, gaming and being a cat mother to her cats, Thomas, Jerry, and Camilla. The activities Thelma loved above all else was spending time with her family. She was known to get into a ferocious nerf dart fight with her grandson Jordan. She started and encouraged the annual Brawley Family reunion and never let us skip a year until the pandemic occurred. Thelma was the person you could always count on to call you out of the blue especially when you needed to hear a friendly voice to cheer you up. She was always sending funny jokes and notes to everyone. She always had a funny story to tell.
Although Thelma was short in statue. She was a giant to her family and friends. She was always ready for prime time, hair, nails and dress looking just right. She was the best mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend anyone could ever ask for. She was just Thelma and she was just right.
We love you and we miss you Thelma. You were kind to all of us and we know that you loved us too.
Celebration of Life Services will be conducted Sunday, February 7, 2021, at 2:00 pm at Rutledge and Bigham Funeral Home. Rev. Dr. Dietrich M. Danner will officiate and Minister William "Kelly" Brawley will officiate and burial will follow in the Belmont Cemetery.
There will be NO PUBLIC VISITATION (WAKE), unfortunately, with the COVID-19 Virus. We, at Rutledge and Bigham Funeral Home, along with other funeral homes across the country, have been issued a mandate to limit the number of family and/or friends at funeral services.
You can also view Mrs. Turner's remains virtually on-line at: www.youtube.com, search Thelma Turner's Viewing.
GO TO VIEW ONLINE STREAMING OF THE SERVICE...GO TO FACEBOOK TO Bernardeane Moton or Michael McClelland Page.
AFTER THE SERVICE IS OVER YOU CAN VIEW THE ONLINE VIDEO BY CLICKING ON HER PICTURE ON OUR WEBSITE. GO TO The BOOK OF MEMORIES CLICK ON PHOTOS AND VIDEO. YOU WILL SEE A LINK TO FACEBOOK - THAT'S THE ONLINE VIDEO.
Visit the Book of Memories for Mrs. Turner at www.rutledgeandbigham.com. Rutledge and Bigham Funeral Home is serving the Turner Family.