Gilbert Turner

Gilbert Turner, 74, of Cedar Hills Dr. in Morganton died Sunday, May 16, 2010 at his residence following a brief illness. He was born February 19, 1936 in Burke County, and was a son of the late Causie E. Turner and Mamie Walker Turner. Gilbert retired in 1999 from Drexel-Heritage Furnishings after 42 years of employment. He was an active and devoted, lifelong member of Hopewell Baptist Church where he served as a deacon, choir member, and Sunday School teacher. Gilbert was presently helping oversee the current construction project at the church, and was also working on the staff as Facility Maintenance Manager. He served as a mentor to many people in the church and loved being a friend and advisor to everyone he met. Gilbert enjoyed traveling all over the country and had visited all fifty states and Canada. He was a loving and devoted husband, father, and grandfather.Gilbert is survived by his wife, Maxine Wright Turner of the home; a son and daughter-in-law, Lee and Tamara Turner of Morganton; grandchildren, Jessica and Justin Turner; brothers and their wives, Alexander and Ruby Turner of Morganton, and Clarence "C.D." and Ann Turner of Davidson, NC; sisters and their husbands, Clara and Woodrow Norman, and Faye and Tommy Garrison of Morganton, and Betty Ann and Ed Summers of Silver Springs, MD; and a number of nephews and nieces.In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, Harold Turner; and a sister, Lib Ross.Funeral services will be held at 4:00 p.m., Tuesday, May 18, 2010 at Hopewell Baptist Church with Rev. Homer Murdock officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends Tuesday from 2:00 until 4:00 p.m. at the church. At other times, the family will be at the residence, 145 Cedar Hills Dr., Morganton. Memorial contributions may be made to Hopewell Baptist Church Building Fund, 1112 Hopewell Rd., Morganton, NC 28655, or to Burke Hospice and Palliative Care, Inc., 1721 Enon Rd., Valdese, NC 28690. Sossoman Funeral Home is assisting the family with the arrangements.