Lawson Turner

Lawson Earl Turner, age 93, of Douglas, Georgia, passed away on Wednesday, April 10, 2019, in Douglas.

Mr. Turner was born on November 8, 1925, in Douglas, the youngest of seven children of the late William Denny Turner and Lilly Edna Tatum Turner.  He was preceded in death by his wife, Vera Lee McCord Turner.

Mr. Turner was employed for 35 years by General Telephone & Electronics Corporation (GTE) as a supervisor in the Douglas office.  He was a lifelong member, former deacon and servant leader of First Baptist Church in Douglas.  A graduate of West Green High School, Mr. Turner was a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II and retained a lifelong interest in aviation and railroads.  He was a longtime Mason, a former member of the city Industrial Authority, a volunteer poll worker in local elections and an avid model railroad enthusiast and member of the Coffee County Fishing Club.  He is remembered by his large, loving family as a world-class husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, uncle, mentor and role model.  He was married for 53 loving years to Vera Lee McCord Turner, who passed away in 2011.

Survivors include four daughters, Donna Steadman (Tommy) of Cary, NC, Debbie Lawson of Douglas, Denise McKinnon (Craig) of Willacoochee, Dianne Carver (Ronnie) of Douglas; a brother, Hubert Turner of Fitzgerald; eight grandchildren, Josh Steadman (Carla) of Cary, NC, Gram Griffin (Karen) of Hazlehurst,   Laura Lee Sansot (Ian) of Douglas, Sarah Lawson of Douglas, Trey Beck (Carol) of Nicholls,  Alexis McKinnon of Douglas, Brooke Carver Deems (John) of Douglas, and Annalee Carver Rumker (Bryan) of Douglas;  12 great-grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held at 4:00 p.m., on Thursday April 18, 2019, at First Baptist Church with the Rev. Shep Johnson and the Rev. Don Hattaway officiating.  Interment will follow at the Douglas City Cemetery. The family will receive friends on Wednesday, April 17, from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. at Sims Funeral Home.  Pallbearers will be Josh Steadman, Gram Griffin, Trey Beck, Tommy Steadman, Ronnie Carver, Gary Griffin, John Deems, Bryan Rumker and Ian Sansot.  Honorary pallbearers are members of the Carlos Lankford Sunday School Class at First Baptist Church.

The family would like to express special thanks to the caregivers (“Papa’s other girls”) at Lakeside Senior Living in Douglas. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research (www.michalejfox.org).

 Sympathy may be expressed by signing the online registry at www.simsfuneralhome.org.

Sims Funeral Home, Douglas, is in charge of arrangements.

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