Don Abbott Turner

May 25, 1961 –October 29, 2013

Columbus, GA

Don Abbott Turner, II, 52, of Columbus, GA, died Tuesday, October 29, 2013, at his home in Columbus, GA.

Funeral services will be held 11:00 A.M. Friday, November 1, 2013, at St. Luke United Methodist Church with a private burial to follow according to Striffler-Hamby.

Abbott Turner was born on May 25, 1961, in Columbus, GA, the youngest son of William Bradley Turner and Sue Marie Thompson Turner.

Abbott began working for his family’s company, the W.C. Bradley Co., directly from high school, launching a career that would span 28 years. He literally began as a teenager working in the company mail room. He then moved to the Char-Broil Foundry where aluminum ingots were melted and poured to make the grill castings. This was truly a transformational experience for Abbott, honing not only his strong lifelong work ethic, but a genuine appreciation and concern for every individual in the company. Many of these first co-workers in the Foundry became Abbott’s friends for life.

His career continued to grow at Char-Broil as a Drafter, Buyer, and then Plant Superintendent, before moving to Bradley Specialty Retailing where he supervised the construction of 25+ Sports Fantasy stores. He next became the Customer Service Manager for Char-Broil during one of the fastest growing periods in its history. Then Abbott assumed the role of the Plant HR Manager, later becoming Vice President of Human Resources for Char-Broil, Zebco Brands in Tulsa, OK, Lamplight in Menomonee Falls, WI, and the PGA Tour Stop in St. Augustine, FL. During his time as Vice President of Human Resources of the W.C. Bradley Co., Abbott was widely known and respected as an employee advocate who mentored hundreds of team members. He had a special gift for balancing the needs of the corporation with what was ultimately best for the team member and their family. He personally knew and cared about the team members and their families, and they knew and cared about him. Nominated by his fellow team members, Abbott received the W.C. Bradley Co. Spirit Award in 1995.

Abbott left the W.C. Bradley Co. in 2007 to pursue his own entrepreneurial business opportunities. He currently served as Chairman of the Bradley-Turner Foundation and on the Boards of the W.C. Bradley Co., Columbus Bank and Trust Company, and the United Way of the Chattahoochee Valley. He also was Past Chairman of the United Way Board, served as the 2008 United Way Campaign Chair, was Past Chairman of the Easter Seals West Georgia and on the Executive Committee of Andrew College in Cuthbert, GA. Until his death, Abbott remained passionately committed and actively involved in the Easter Seals, the United Way and Andrew College.

Abbott especially loved family trips to Orange Beach, FL, and family time spent at their cabin on the Bradley Farms in Omaha, GA. An avid conservationist, Abbott enjoyed countless hours spent in the south Georgia pinelands where he learned the love of fishing and quail hunting as a young boy from his Grandfather and namesake, D. Abbott Turner, and his beloved Dad, Bill Turner.

Abbott is survived by his wife of 34 years, Cathey Seguin Turner, and their four children, William Clark Turner (Lori), Don Abbott Turner III (Kayla), Ashley Seguin Turner, and Brooke Delaney Turner and their two granddaughters, Delaney Jane Turner and Julianne Bradley Turner, all of Columbus.

He is also survived by his parents and his five siblings: Donna Turner Brown (David) of Atlanta, William Bradley Turner, Jr. (Sally) of Columbus, Marie Turner Moshell of Columbus, John Thompson Turner (Amandah) of Columbus, and Sarah Turner Martin (John) of Columbus, his father-in-law Robert L. Seguin, his mother-in-law Gerry B. Seguin, his brothers-in-law Rick Seguin (Debbie), Mark Seguin (Gillian), and Paul Seguin (Tonya), his sister-in-law Vickey Jasinski (Greg), and 28 nieces and nephews.

Abbott was beloved by all his family, his many friends, and co-workers and will be dearly missed. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions be made to Easter Seals West Georgia (2515 Double Churches Road, Columbus, GA, 31909), United Way of the Chattahoochee Valley (P.O. Box 1157, Columbus, GA, 31902), or Andrew College (501 College Street, Cuthbert, GA 39840-5599).