Martha Alice Turner, 66, of Irwin County, died Tuesday, October 04, 2011, at Palemon Gaskins Nursing Home in Ocilla.
A celebration of homecoming will be held at 11:00 A.M. Thursday, October 6, at Big Creek Baptist Church with Rev. Wayne McCrimmon and Rev. Ed Reeves officiating. Joy Pugh will give the eulogy. Interment will follow in the church cemetery. Visitation will be held from 5-7 Wednesday evening at the funeral home in Ocilla.
As one of God’s special creations, she was born July 1, 1945 in Ocilla to the late John Thomas and Coila Ashley Turner. Packed full of love and a zest for life, she never met a stranger. Martha was a life-long resident of Irwin County and attended Irwinville public school. She was a member of Big Creek Baptist Church where she enjoyed serving as an unofficial greeter, singing in the choir and playing on the church softball team. She was blessed to be a part of the Sunny Dale Training Center family for many years where she could work, play and interact with her peers. She loved the clients and staff and thanks to Joy Pugh and others, was able to participate in the Special Olympics. Martha enjoyed bowling and golf. She has many gold medals to prove she gave her very best effort in each challenge and in 1996, she and her special friend, Billy Spicer, were awarded State Champions in Golf.
She is survived by her sister, Ann T. Martin of Irwinville; brother and sister-in-law, Jerome & Mildred Turner of Valdosta as well as several nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Irwin ARC, P.O. Box 614, Ocilla, GA 31774 or to Special Olympics of Georgia, 4000 Dekalb Technology Parkway, Suite 400, Atlanta, GA 30340.