Barbara Ann Moore Turner

Born on Friday, March 31, 1939, in Bladen County, North Carolina, she was the daughter of the late Ernest Edward Moore and Alice Flowers Settlemeyer.

Upon graduation from Elizabethtown High School where she was extremely active and a proud cheerleader, she attended Columbia College in South Carolina for one year before transferring to East Carolina University. At East Carolina, she was active in numerous school organizations and a member of Chi Omega Sorority.

She received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Education and after teaching for a number of years returned to receive her Master of Arts in Education.

A lifelong educator, she moved to Centreville, Maryland for her first teaching position and met the love of her life William Robert Turner, Jr. at church in his hometown. She then taught in Northern Virginia and the mountains of North Carolina before returning to Wilmington with teaching positions at several schools before retiring from John J. Blair Elementary in 1995. She loved working with students individually especially in Reading and believed every child could succeed.

She enjoyed her membership over the years with many colleagues and friends in Alpha Delta Kappa International Honor Society for Women Educators.

Extremely proud of her family’s long patriotic heritage, she was a long-standing member of the Daughters of the American Revolution Battle of Elizabethtown Chapter and served in multiple roles including Chapter Regent.

Over the years, she and William enjoyed membership in numerous social organizations and cherished their time with many special friends. Also, they made many wonderful friends while traveling in later years throughout the United States with William’s consulting role with AARP.

As their oldest grandchild, she had an exceptionally close bond with her maternal grandparents, Artie Roy Settlemeyer and Janie Ruth Flowers Settlemeyer, who provided her with wonderful love and guidance. Upon the early death of her grandfather, she formed a special relationship upon her grandmother’s remarriage to Bennett Albert Sigman.

In addition to her cherished and devoted husband of sixty-four years, William, she is also survived by her adored and devoted son William Robert Turner, III both of Wilmington. Her siblings are William Ernest Moore and wife Margaret of Warrenton, Virginia; Samuel Edgar Long, Jr. and wife Susan; Lynda Long Davies; and Dianne Long Russell all of Wilmington.

Additionally, she is survived by Lisa Hare Cutchin of Frederick, Maryland who was like a daughter to her and whose sixty-five year relationship with the Hare family she considered to be one of her greatest blessings.

She also loved and enjoyed many cousins and other extended family members.                                                                                                                             

Her strong and enduring faith was anchored by her lifelong membership in Carvers Creek Methodist Church where she was active her entire life and also her longstanding membership at Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church in Wilmington.

Barbara was a woman of rare Christian character and was an ardent and trusted supporter to those she cared about and loved. She quietly and humbly helped others in need and freely spoke about the blessings bestowed upon her by God. She set the foundation for many wonderful memories that will last a lifetime.

Great appreciation is extended to Dr. J. Todd Kornegay and Dr. Kenneth S. White who provided great love and care over the years and went above and beyond with compassion and dedication. Special thanks are also extended to Lower Cape Fear LifeCare and to her hospice care team. We are extremely grateful to Mary Ann Clay, Kay Hostetter, and Linda Graham who provided such wonderful care and support over the last several months at home.

The family will receive friends at a visitation on Friday, May 16, 2025 from 4:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m. at Andrews Mortuary Market Street, Wilmington.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, May 17, 2025 at 3:00 p.m. at Carvers Creek Methodist Church, 16904 North Carolina Highway 87, Council, North Carolina 28434, with burial to follow in the church graveyard. Immediately following burial, a reception will be held in the church fellowship hall at which all are welcome and invited.

In lieu of flowers, those that desire may consider a contribution to the William R. Turner, Jr. and Barbara M. Turner Scholarship Fund, Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church, 1401 South College Road, Wilmington, North Carolina 28403, Carvers Creek Methodist Church, Attention: Mr. Jack West, 18938 North Carolina Highway 87 East, Riegelwood, North Carolina 28456, or a charity of one’s choice.