Mary Witherington Turner

After a long and happy life, Mary Witherington Turner passed away peacefully on April 20, 2018 at home in Roswell, GA. She was 100. Born in Chester, GA on March 6, 1918, the eldest of four daughters, she was predeceased by her husband, Ralph A. Turner, parents, Albert and Lillie Witherington, and sisters Clarice Braswell and Mozelle Jolley. After graduation from Dodge County High School, Mary left home for Atlanta, attending a business school and working for Columbia Pictures. She met her future husband, Ralph, and they married on January 31, 1942. Ralph joined the U.S. Navy and they moved to Alcoa, TN, where they lived for the duration of the war. Afterwards, they moved back to Atlanta and started their family. Always involved in her church, Mary was a member of Beecher Hills Baptist, then later became an early member of Mt. Vernon Baptist. She taught Sunday School to three-year-olds for 30 years, sometimes teaching two generations of the same family. Mary was skilled at cross-stitch and crafts, and enjoyed bridge and entertaining her whole life. She loved to travel, visiting all 50 states and many countries around the world, from Norway to Egypt, Australia, and the Panama Canal. An ardent walker, Mary was known to walk to stores in Sandy Springs well into her 90’s. Mary will be remembered by family and friends as a sweet, cheerful person who was always interested in them and their families. She is survived by her sister Shirley Witherington; daughters Sanda Means (Bill) and Gayle Vincent (Keith); grandchildren Katy Ringenberg-Means (Marta), Tess Vincent and Brett Vincent; and great-granddaughter Ida Ringenberg-Means. The family will receive friends on Saturday, April 28, 2018 beginning at 1 o’clock with a funeral service at 2 o’clock at H.M. Patterson & Son - Arlington Chapel, 173 Allen Road, NE, Sandy Springs, GA, 30328. Interment will follow at Arlington Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Wears Valley Ranch (a healing home for children in crisis), 100 One Fine Place, Sevierville, TN 37862.