Barbara Sue (Johnson) Turpen

Barbara Johnson Turpen, 70 of Birmingham, Alabama went to be with her Lord and Savior on Tuesday, November 21, 2017. Barbara was born on May 30, 1947 in Tuscumbia, Alabama to Emmett and Bessie Johnson. She graduated from Sheffield High School. Barbara married Jerry Turpen on February 23, 1964. They began their family in Florence, Alabama. Barbara and Jerry raised their family in many different places, Columbus, GA, Athens, GA, Phoenix, AZ, Richardson, TX, Herndon, VA, and Birmingham, AL. Barbara joined the Johnson Rast & Hays Real Estate team in May of 1989. Throughout the years she always provided exceptional service and made lifelong friends with both clients and co-workers. In 2016, Barbara was inducted into the Millennium Circle, which is the highest award a RealtySouth agent can receive. Barbara was a dedicated member of Beta Sigma Phi International Sorority for 49 years. She has held and served with distinction in every executive office at the local Chapter and City Council level, and recently served as a host at the Alabama State Convention. In her current chapter (Alpha), her sisters describe her as having a sweet and gentle spirit with an inner beauty that is contagious to everyone. Barbara was a loyal member of Christ Church United Methodist. She wore so many hats and unselfishly gave to so many. Barbara was a loving wife, devoted mother, one of a kind grandmother (Bebe), a baby sister, Aunt B-bar, and a treasured friend who will be truly missed. Barbara is survived by Jerry Turpen, her husband of 53 years, daughters Niki Turpen and Traci Giffin, (husband, Mike Giffin), grandchildren Haley, Brandon, and Anna Claire Giffin, sisters Sue Murphy and Effie Burns, brother, Pat Johnson (wife, Vera), and sisters-in-law Wanda Little and Melanie Smith (husband Jerry Smith). Barbara's memorial will be at Christ Church United Methodist. Visitation will be held Tuesday, November 28th at 1:00pm, Celebration of Life to follow at 2:00pm. The family requests in lieu of flowers that donations be sent to the Alabama Kidney Foundation.