Funeral Service for Frank Maxwell “Mac” Turner Sr., of Iron City, will be 2:00 pm, Friday, April 6, 2018 at Parker Memorial DeArmanville Campus with Rev. Joey Bentley, Dr. Randy Hagan, Dr. Ronald Brown and Rev. Carl Dishman officiating. Burial will follow at Iron City Cemetery. The family will receive friends Thursday evening from 6-8 pm at the church and one hour prior to the service of Friday.
Mr. Turner passed into his eternal rest on April 2nd, 2018 at the age of 99. Mr. Turner was born on November 16, 1918 to Clay W. and Lydia Angel Turner and was the oldest of their four children. Mac, as he was known by most, became the head of the household around the age of seven when his father passed away suddenly. He attended a two-room schoolhouse in Iron City for a few years, but gave up his formal education as soon as he was big enough to plow a field with a team of mules, pick cotton, and cut timber to help put food on the table. Hard work became a way of life for him, and many who knew him claim he was the hardest-working man they ever met.
In 1940 he went to work in the motor pool at the new Anniston Ordinance Depot where he learned auto mechanics through hands-on experience. He left the Depot for a short time to serve his country in World War II. After training in Kansas and Oregon, he was sent to Tinian Island in the Asiatic Pacific Campaign. There his knowledge of tractors and engines was put to good use as his primary job was to help build an airstrip on the island for Allied bombers to carry out their missions. He was present on the island when the Enola Gay lifted off with her cargo, headed to Japan to bring a swift end to the war.
After returning home to his family, Mac resumed his job at Anniston Army Depot. In 1947 he married Gladys Lester, and the two of them eventually settled in the Iron City community. Together they raised four daughters and a son, and the family was active in the First Baptist Church of DeArmanville for many years. There Mac served his Lord and Saviour in any way he was able, whether it was helping with construction projects or just cooking biscuits for a Brotherhood breakfast. He was ordained as a deacon in 1989.
After “retiring” from the Depot in 1977, Mac began farming full-time, and his children spent countless hours in the summer helping him plow and weed the pea patch, the watermelons, and the corn fields. People drove from across the county to buy peas from him, and all who knew him were proud to call him friend.
After losing his wife of over fifty years, Papa, as he was known by his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, continued farming and helping his family in any way he could. He began attending church at Golden Springs Baptist, and was present every Sunday until his health began to fail just last year. He was an avid Braves fan and enjoyed watching the games right up until the week before his death.
He is survived by his four daughters, Linda (Donnie) Robinson of Heflin, Laura (the late Rev. Larry) Carpenter of Anniston, Lena (James) Brooks of DeArmanville, Lynn (Mike) McComb of Iron City, and one son, Frank Jr. (Terrie) of Iron City; nine grandchildren, Lisa (Jerry) Charles of Heflin, Kristy (Greg) Bonner of Heflin, Adrian (Christy) Carpenter of Valley, David Carpenter of Anniston, Wesley (Rachel) McComb of Daphne, Amanda (Rudy) Jimenez of Iron City, and Ethan Turner, Justin (fiance Katelyn), and Ben Turner, all of Anniston; and ten great-grandchildren, Ashley Robinson, Jesse (Hannah) Dryden, Jake Maxwell Dryden, Destiny (Matt) Poole, Katie Carpenter, Kennedy Cronan, Kallyn McComb, and Samantha, Harley, and Makayela Jimenez.
He is also survived by three half-sisters, Sarah Suggs, Barbara Duke, and Alice Gladden, and two half-brothers, Robert Tucker and Gerald Tucker, as well as a host of nieces and nephews.
Mr. Turner is preceded in death by his 51 years wife, Gladys Lester Turner; sisters, Edna Francis, Elma Wildman, Alma Phillips; infant brother, Ray Tucker
The family would like to thank the employees of New Beacon Hospice, especially Nurse Dean Pearce and caregiver Mrs. Barbara Johnson for their excellent care of our father and our entire family in his last days.
