Denise Lavonne Turner was born April 5, 1952, in Kansas City, Kansas to Verner L. and Delores L. Turner. She was the baby of two daughters. As a young child, she attended Seven Oak Elementary School, Manual High School, and received her diploma from Central High School, in Kansas City, Missouri, in 1970. Born a musically gifted child, her passion for music extended for many decades. From singing in high school talent shows, various "Girl Groups" in Kansas City, excelling to singing lead for Kansas City's own singing group, "Joint Session," and playing keyboard. "Joint Session performed in various states across the country, recorded two songs played on the radio, and was interviewed on a television talk show. She accomplished this all while raising two children. Denise has sung with Roy Ayers, an American funk, soul, and jazz composer and music producer. She also has sung and recorded albums with several gospels' groups and choirs in the Kansas City area.
In the early seventies, she worked for Martin Luther King Jr. Hospital in the medical records department. In 1977, she began working for the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority, driving the metro bus. In 1981, she enlisted into the United States Air Force Reserve and was honorable discharged in 1987, after proudly serving her country for 6 years. That same year, she decided it was time to put her entrepreneurial suit on and became a beautician/stylist for two decades. She was also an instructor at several cosmetology schools in Kansas City. Throughout the late eighties and nineties, before stage plays were popular, she acted in countless stage plays with the MC Players, the CT Players, and the theater group, TYL Productions. Believing that it is never too late to gain knowledge, she decided in 2003, it was time to go to college and in 2005, she received her associate degree from DeVry in Information Technology.
Denise continued to instill in her children and encouraged her grandchildren that failure was never an option. Reassuring them to follow their dreams, as she had. To always put God first and uphold the love of family.
Denise was predeceased by her mother, Missionary Delores L. Turner. She is survived by her father, Mr. Verner L. Turner Sr.; sister Cheryl Jones (Clyde), son Gerald L. Turner I (Tamara), daughter Angela Turner-Barr (Gregory), daughter Cameo L. Turner, two grandsons, five granddaughters, one great grandson, two great-granddaughters, three aunts, one uncle, many cousins, and friend
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.eternalhillsfuneralhome.com for the Turner family.
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