Obituary of Marian Wilson Turner

Marian Wilson Turner died, the evening of May 27, 2013 at the Dubose Assisted Living Center on the campus of the Cedars Retirement Community in Chapel Hill of natural causes. Mrs. Turner was born on September 3, 1919 in Normal, Alabama on the campus of A&M University, the daughter of Exeline Polk Wilson and James H. Wilson, first African-American treasurer of A&M University and a well known cornetist who played with W.C. Handy and the great bands of the early twentieth century. She graduated from Virginia State College with a degree in Business Administration. She married John Brister Turner, UNC Dean of Social Work, in 1948. Dr. Turner passed away in 2009. Mrs. Turner was a much recognized administrative and business manager par excellence, having worked at Atlanta University, Dornback Company in Cleveland, the American Business Institute in Cairo, Egypt and leading up to her retirement, Duke University. She was also a noted enamellist on copper. She was also a champion tennis player and dearly loved jazz music. Mrs. Turner was active and a board member of several organizations . She leaves two children, Marian Turner Hopkins and Charles Turner, grandchild Ian Hopkins, son-in-law Jonathan Hopkins , sister-in-laws Mrs. Peggye Dowell and Mrs. Ann Wilson and several nephews and nieces. Funeral Services will be held at First Baptist Church in Chapel Hill on Saturday, June 1, 2013 at 11 am. Cards and flowers may be sent to Walker's Funeral Home, 120 W. Franklin Street, Chapel Hill NC 27516. Condolences can be sent to the Turner family by visiting: www.walkersfuneralservice.com. Walker's Funeral Home in Chapel Hill is honored to serve the Turner family.