Linda Carol Turner

Aug. 30, 1943 - May 18, 2016 Linda Carol Shepard Turner, 72, of Irondale, Alabama, passed away Wednesday, May 18, 2016. A Birmingham native, Linda was a graduate of Ramsay High School (1961) and a 37-year employee retired from Alabama Gas Company. Linda studied piano more than a dozen years and attended Highland's United Methodist Church from grammar school age, singing and playing music under the direction of the late Amos Hudson. Through her love of music and the church, Linda brought the celebrated Boar's Head and Yule Log Festival to Highland's and served as its producer, creative director and executive director from 1964-1990. Linda is preceded in death by her father, Elijah Frank Shepard, her beloved mother Rosemary Hames Shepard, her aunt Ruby Leigh Hames Powell and her brother Philip Madison Shepard. Linda is survived by her loving and devoted husband of 49 years, CW4 John Karl Turner, USA – Retired, daughter Allison Rosemary Turner, beloved granddaughters Anastasia Marie Turner Jewell (Ron) and Karlynda Noel Turner, sister Frances Shepard Allbritten (Jack), sister-in-law Alice Lackey Shepard, numerous cherished nieces and nephews and scores of honored friends. Family will receive friends and loved ones Monday, May 23, 2016 at 11:00 am in the sanctuary of Saint Mark United Methodist Church with services to follow at 12 noon. Interment to be at 2:00 pm at the Alabama National Cemetery in Montevallo, AL. For many years, Linda sponsored at least two children per year in their participation of Music and Arts Week at Camp Sumatanga in Gallant, AL, as well as in the Godspeed Choir of Saint Mark United Methodist Church. The family suggests, in lieu of flowers, that donations be made to either of these wonderful groups in Linda's honor and loving memory, so that other children may be afforded the opportunity for enrichment of their lives and others through music, service and worship.