Theodore Turnipseed

Jim Theodore “Ted” Turnipseed, Sr., was born to Mr. John and Sudie McClendon-Turnipseed, on December 29, 1929, in McCool, Mississippi. He departed this life on Monday, February 14, 2011, in Carmichael, California (Mercy San Juan Hospital).Ted lost his mother shortly after birth and was immediately cared for by his loving grandparents and other close relatives. At the age of six, he began living with his father John "Johnnie" Turnipseed (deceased) and stepmother Willie Mae Gregory-Turnipseed (deceased). As their only child, Ted was raised to become a hard-working, hospitable family man. He was a member of the Hopewell Missionary Baptist Church and attended Spay Vocational Training School, both in Choctaw County, Mississippi. Ted united in marriage with his loving and devoted wife Bonnie Lou Thompson, on December 27, 1950. This union withstood the test of time for over 61 years. The couple moved to San Francisco, California in 1954, where they lived for over 40 years. That is where Ted honed new skills beyond farming and began to practice his new careers as construction worker, diesel truck driver, “shade-tree” mechanic and even experimented as a “country-gourmet” chef. After retirement, Ted and Bonnie moved to Sacramento, California. This is where he spent the remainder of his life enjoying the fruits of his labor. He loved fishing, playing bid whist, camping with his family and just sitting around "shooting the breeze" with his buddies. Ted had a charming personality and magnetic smile…he loved to laugh and show his one dimple. "Daddy" as he was known by his large and extended family (his children and all their friends), had the unique ability to make everyone, in his presence feel comfortable and welcomed. And, he always made sure everyone was well fed. He believed wholeheartedly in the old southern saying…"Y'all come on in and stay a while." He also on occasion enjoyed attending the meetings with his wife at the local Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses.

In loving memory is his son Ronald Turnipseed (deceased). To cherish his memory are: his wife, Bonnie; his daughters: Georgia Turnipseed-Work (Johnny), of Louisville, MS; Peggy Turnipseed-Jacobs (Jessie "Jake," deceased), of Oakland, CA; Cassie “Sade” Turnipseed, of Indianola, MS; Ronald’s partner (Jane Isler); Barbara Turnipseed-Lister (Oliver), of San Francisco, CA; Nina Turnipseed-Reilford (Michael "Todd"), of Sacramento, CA; his sons: Wavlon Hannah (Angie), of Detroit, MI; Theodore "Jr." Turnipseed, of Sacramento, CA; Vincent "Tony" Turnipseed (Sophia), of Suisun, CA; his sister-in-laws and brother-in-laws: Otis Charles(deceased), Evelyn, Meldora (deceased), Elsie Mae, Carrie Sean (deceased), Horace, Phenion, JoVonda, Eddie, Marva Lois and Amos and all their families; his only surviving aunt: Jewel Randle of Lexington, MS; and a host of grandchildren, great-grandchildren, relatives and friends, which would take another eighty-one years to name individually. Ted Turnipseed was well known and truly loved by everyone who had the pleasure of knowing him.