Barbara Bernice Turner

After a long and dignified battle, Barbara Bernice Lazenby-Turner passed away peacefully in her sleep early Tuesday morning, February 2, 2016 at the age of 81 young years. Beside her were her loving son, Randall Henderson Turner, daughter, Judith Kathleen Turner-Moore and other family members. Barbara Bernice Lazenby was born November 29, 1934 in Atlanta, Georgia to Paul Clarence Lazenby and Kathleen Bernice Steed-Lazenby. She later married Charles Henderson Turner of Decatur, GA.

Barbara was a fun loving, free spirited individual who loved her family dearly. She dedicated her whole life to her children, grandchildren and extended family members. She had deep roots in the south and made sure her children and grandchildren were a part of those roots, and the wonderful memories she had growing up, by taking them on many trips to Mansfield, Winder and Statham, GA.

Barbara graduated from the University of Georgia in Athens with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Education. She began her career as a Physical Education teacher, girls’ basketball coach and as a kindergarten teacher. While raising her two children she later returned to school and completed her Master’s Degree in Special Education at Georgia State University. From then on she fulfilled her passion teaching children with special needs. She would often use her grandchildren to help ‘test run’ making crafts and projects she would later do in the classroom with her junior high special needs students. She enjoyed taking her students on trips to Galveston, throwing hot dog and pool parties at her apartment for them and was very active with the Special Olympics sports competitions.

Barbara loved entertaining friends, cooking, traveling, water skiing and boating, the beach, writing poetry, the performing arts and dancing. She grew up tap dancing and performed at the downtown Atlanta Fox Theatre on several occasions. Barbara had a love for life and a love for all people. Those who knew her, knew her big heart and unending devotion to her friends and family.

She was preceded in death by her mother, Kathleen Steed-Lazenby and her father Paul Clarence Lazenby. She is survived by her sister Beverly Hogan, brother-in-law Tony Hogan, her son, Randall Henderson Turner, his wife, Cindy Turner, her daughter, Judith Turner-Moore, her husband, Calvin Moore, her nine grandchildren: Samson Moore, David Moore, LeeAnne Carruthers, Toni Parrish, Michael Moore, Dominic Moore, Cameron Turner, Travis Dunn, and Megan Enis, and her great grandchildren Brenden, Layne, Makayla, Austin, Tyler, Heather, Rion, Kai and Hadley.

In memory of her great love for children, the family asks that donations be made to The Special Olympics Foundation for special needs children in lieu of flowers.