Maxine was born on September 16, 1941, in Charlotte, NC, to the late Lula Johnson Wilson and Damoes Bryant Wilson. She had four sisters and three brothers, Damoes Wilson (Alice), Arizona Johnson (Johnny), Deodes Tompkins (Roy), Sarah Beard (Gene), Aileen Pendleton (John), Larry Wilson (Gay), and Jerry Wilson (Mary Madeline).
She graduated from East Mecklenburg High School and later attended Appalachian State University, before getting married to Charles Ronald Turner (also from Charlotte) in 1960. They raised their three children ~ Chuck, Jeff and Jennifer in Matthews, North Carolina.
They were faithful members of Mt. Harmony Baptist Church since 1967, where Maxine taught Children’s Sunday School as well as Children’s church most of her adult life. She was a lifelong member of the Willing Workers Sunday School class, and taught vacation Bible school annually. Maxine never met a stranger. She went out of her way each and every Sunday to introduce herself to any visitors that might be attending. She served in many capacities at church and regularly opened up her home for various gatherings. Maxine loved to plan and prepare with great anticipation like the annual 4th of July celebration at the lake house for family and friends. Later in life, she loved to travel to new places where she would spread her joy with perfect strangers.
Maxine was a true hostess, always putting the needs of others first. She regularly hosted the “Wilson Family Christmas Party” in her home for her brothers and sisters. Maxine was the true matriarch of her family. Her home was a daily stop for her grandchildren, known to all as “MIMI”. There was no sacrifice too great for her children and her grandchildren, and she did not hesitate to “set them straight” whenever they strayed. She had a sixth sense about her and she just knew when something wasn’t just right.
The Bible was her rock, teaching all of her children and grandchildren to recite the books of the Bible from start to finish. She loved the Lord with all her heart and she and Ronnie regularly “laid down the fleece” to seek His will.
Maxine is survived by her husband, Ronnie (Poppa) of 60 years; two sons and one daughter, Chuck (Belmont), Jeff (Judy), and Jennifer (Wrightsville Beach). She is also survived by seven grandchildren, Luke Turner (Heather), Zach Turner (Allison), Hillary McWhirter (Brandon), Joseph Baucom, Layton Turner, Moriah Baucom, and Spencer Turner; and five great grandchildren, Jacoby Jax Leviner, Caroline Mae Turner, Dawson Luke McWhirter, Claire Elizabeth Turner, and Beau Charles Turner.
A funeral service to celebrate her life will be held 1:00 pm Friday, January 29, 2021, at Mt. Harmony Baptist Church. Interment will follow in the church cemetery.
As Maxine always had a heart for teaching the Bible to children, in lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Mt. Harmony Baptist Church Children’s Ministry, 2817 Mt. Harmony Church Road, Matthews, NC 28105.
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