Eunice Benton Turner

Eunice Benton Turner was born in Thomasville, Georgia in 1915; and was a resident of Miami for more than six decades.
She grew up on a plantation in South Georgia, where well-connected friends urged her family to let this young beauty accompany them on a world tour, ending in Hollywood-where a film career would surely await her. Her loving and level-headed father's refusal sentenced her to a life of happy obscurity; she was a devoted helpmate to her husband, a loving mother and grandmother, a friend to anyone in need, a rescuer of animals, a painter, a cook and a gardener extraordinaire..
On the evening before her family would move to Miami, she eloped with a dashing, determined and self-confident J. Carl Turner. She arrived back in Thomasville just in time to catch the Miami-bound train that would distance them from one another and add to the aura of their secret marriage.
A few months later her new husband joined her in Miami and bought the Denning Seed Company in South Miami and Homestead. They worked together in this business venture-which eventually became Denning's Hardware. They felt privileged to be a part of this new thriving city where Carl was instrumental in the founding of many South Miami institutions and served as president of the South Miami Chamber of Commerce.
In the mid-1950s they sold Denning's Hardware, so that Carl could focus his time and energy on his own company-J. Carl Turner CO.-with offices and warehouses in Miami and Hialeah.
Petey-as she was called by those that knew her well-then found herself free to indulge totally in her love of gardening. Her two Miami properties overflowed year-round with flowers and fruits of every description. While she was not naturally endowed with a green-thumb, her commitment to the study of plants allowed her to create beautiful gardens and landscapes.
In 1971, Petey and Carl moved to their summer home in Blue Ridge, Georgia. They had long looked forward to retiring to their island home since its purchase in 1952; as they loved the country and it's people. Carl-a man capable of doing just about anything-began building furniture, planting an extraordinary vegetable garden and writing for the local newspaper. While active in the Big Creek Baptist Church, he also devoted his time to the study of his family's genealogical history and founded James Publishing Inc. Blue Ridge was on the verge of becoming a well-populated modern city and soon he was serving the city by bringing the Fannin County Tax Accessor's office up to date.
Lack of adequate sunshine limited Petey's flower gardening endeavors; but any free time she had was soon consumed as she became a one-woman humane society-taking in any creature that seemed in need, or showed up upon her doorstop. With some encouragement from a friend, she began to paint and was quickly creating upon her canvas the beautiful landscapes not permitted by her shady land. Before long her love of cats and dogs made their way onto her canvases as well; and her friends and family kept her busy for years with requests for her painting.
The Turners celebrated their sixty-third wedding anniversary just before Carl's death in 1998. He was a good, sweet man who never had a discouraging word for anyone. He loved to tell stories and he loved to sing-though he often did it softly as he didn't like his voice. Above all, he loved his family and adored his wife. After his death, Petey stayed in Miami with her family; but often took extended trips back to her beloved home in Blue Ridge. She was a fiery, opinionated and independent woman long before it was en vogue. She loved political debate and spent hours reading or writing her memoirs. She was hysterically funny and had a laugh that could fill any room.
This woman, who never found enough time in any day or week, month, year or life-time to do all she wanted to do, passed away at her daughter's home on Saturday, June 7th. A visitation will be held at the Allen and Allen Funeral Home in Thomasville, Georgia of Sunday, June 15th, from 6:00-8:00PM in the evening. An open memorial service celebrating her wondrous life and fabulous personality will be held at Allen and Allen Funeral Chapel on Monday, June 16, 2003 at 11:30A.M. with the burial to follow at Thomasville's Laurel Hill Cemetery. The Rev. Lee Waller will officiate.
Together, they leave a legacy of love to their family and friends; along with sweet memories of lives devoted to caring for others great and small; for making the world a nicer place to be; and a promise, that through God's grace, we will join them in eternity. They are survived by their daughter Susan Willliams, son-in-law, Gene, their granddaughter Kristyl Stadler and her husband Lou.
Visitors may sign the online guest register at www.allenfh.com .
ALLEN & ALLEN FUNERAL HOME