Emma Roberts Turner, age 88, of Clarkesville, Georgia, passed away peacefully on Friday, January 8, 2021.
She was born on October 7, 1932, in Clarkesville at the family home on New Liberty Road to the late Homer and Jessie Groves Roberts.
Growing up in the New Liberty Community, Emma’s family was active members of Macedonia Baptist Church. She graduated from Clarkesville High School in 1949, as Salutatorian of her class. Serving as class secretary, Emma enjoyed organizing Class of ‘49 reunions throughout her life.
In 1957, Emma married the late Charles Bo Turner after they met attending Piedmont College. They went on to have three sons, Tony, John-Mark, and Craig. After graduating from Piedmont, Emma worked as an educator for Habersham County School System, teaching at both North Habersham and South Habersham Junior High Schools. She retired from teaching in 1993.
In the early 1980s, Emma and Bo became friends with Linda and Millard Fuller, the founders of Habitat for Humanity, and through them, also became friends with Roseland and Jimmy Carter, later helping to establish Habitat for Humanity of Northeast Georgia. Emma served for years on the family selection committee to help connect families in need of adequate housing. Following retirement, she and Bo embarked on a 3000-mile cross-country bicycle trip, where they raised over $125,000 for Habitat for Humanity. Emma drove the support vehicle for their 88 day trip from Virginia to Oregon.
Emma has been a member of Tallulah Falls Baptist Church since 1980 when Bo started his 25-year tenure as pastor of the church. She taught the children’s Sunday School there for many years. Emma was blessed through the many wonderful relationships she developed with her Tallulah Falls Baptist Church family.
The joy of “Mema’s” later life has been her time spent with her 12 grandchildren – Chris, Brett, Amelia, Ben, Matthew, Abby, William, Shelby, Bryce, Ava, Jillian and Carlyn. Many of her favorite times were spent with her grandchildren on annual family trips to Myrtle Beach and when she hosted large family holiday gatherings.
Emma is preceded in death by her above mentioned husband, Charles Bo Turner, parents Homer and Jessie Roberts, and siblings Phil Roberts, Helen Brown, and Larry Roberts.
She is survived by her three sons and daughter in laws – Tony and Kirsten Turner of Huntsville, Alabama, John-Mark and Jennifer Turner of Blairsville, and Craig and Barb Turner of Dacula as well as the above mentioned grandchildren.
The family would like to thank the wonderful workers of the Stonehenge Senior Living Facility in Blairsville for their compassion and care of Emma over the last year of her life.
A graveside service is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. Saturday, January 16, 2021, at Clarkesville City Cemetery with Dr. Kenneth Franklin officiating.
A family visitation will be held at the funeral home from 1:00 p.m. until 1:45 p.m. on Saturday just prior to the service.
In consideration of public health & safety, the family requests that all those in attendance observe all guidelines for social distancing.
In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that memorial contributions in Emma’s memory be made to Habitat for Humanity of Northeast Georgia, 1085 Rocky Branch Road, Clarkesville, Ga 30523.
An online guest registry is available for the Turner family at www.HillsideMemorialChapel.com
Arrangements by Hillside Memorial Chapel, Clarkesville, Georgia. (706) 754-6256
