Rev. Wayne Turner

Charles Wayne Turner went to be with the Lord at Tranquility Hospice Center in Austell, Georgia on Monday, December 11, 2017. He was deeply loved and well respected by his family and friends and will be greatly missed. Wayne was born June 23, 1933 in Caddo, Oklahoma; son of Homer and Gladys Turner. He grew up in a farming community and graduated from Caddo High School. Following high school, Wayne answered his country’s call and volunteered for the U.S. Air Force serving honorably in the Korean War. When his father became gravely ill, Wayne returned home to take care of his family. He later found work in Fort Worth, TX at Chance Vaught Aircraft Factory where he met the love of his life, Alice Mae Thompson. After three months of dating, they married on Christmas Day 1952 and have spent almost 65 years together. Wayne answered another call this time from the Lord to serve Him. He attended the University of Texas at Arlington and the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, TX. Wayne, as a Minister of Education/Administration and Alice faithfully served over 39 years in various Southern Baptist churches throughout Texas, Tennessee, Oklahoma and Georgia. He was a church leader in building “Family Life Centers” for reaching out to people in the community who did not know the Lord. Wayne Turner continued to be a “good and faithful servant” as a reputable businessman for 21 years and was President of his own company, “Heartland Home Developers” in Rockmart, GA. He continued to minister as a godly role model in providing affordable homes to over 132 families in GA and Alabama. He truly loved his work and helping other people!

Wayne is predeceased by his sister, Gertrude Yeats of Alvarado, TX and his parents. Wayne is survived by his wife, Alice Turner of Rockmart, GA; daughter Kathy Stevenson of Cumming, GA and her husband John; daughter Donna Nichols of Rockmart, GA and her husband Ken; son Bob Turner of Rockmart, GA and wife Sonya. Wayne’s legacy includes 6 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren. He is also survived by his brother Gerald Turner and his wife Roni; sister Louise Boydson and her husband James.

The family will receive friends on Saturday, December 16, 2017 from 1:00 to 3:00 at Clark Funeral Home, 4373 Atlanta Highway in Hiram, GA. A service of remembrance and celebration of Wayne Turner’s life will follow at 3:00 PM in the chapel of Clark Funeral Home. Burial will follow the service at Melrose Cemetery, Highway 61 in Villa Rica, GA. There will also be a life celebration for family and friends at First Baptist Church Durant, Oklahoma which will be announced later. In lieu of flowers, donations in Wayne’s memory can be made to the American Cancer Society, Samaritan’s Purse or Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.