Amanda R. Turner

On December 24, 1926, in Starkville, Mississippi Amanda was born the third of 9 children to Dennis and Rosie Lee Roby. At an early age, she attended Pleasant Hills Methodist Church where she sang with her sisters as a quartet group. Amanda's parents taught her about God and instilled Christian values in her, at dinner time they each had to say a prayer.

Amanda graduated from Starkville High School. She attended Mary Holmes Junior College, West Point, Mississippi, and Jackson State College, Jackson, Mississippi where she received a teaching certificate and Cosmetology degree.

On June 15, 1946, she married Wiley Turner Jr who asked her to wait for him while he was away fighting in World War II. This holy union was blessed with 9 children.

In 1955, Amanda and Wiley relocated their family from Mississippi to Kenosha, Wisconsin where they united with Coleman Chapel AME Church. Amanda sang in the choir, was a Sunday School Teacher, YPD Director, Area YPD Director, Missionary President, a Steward and on the Stewardess Board.

When Amanda was age 35 she came down with a debilitating illness which caused her to be confined to bed for a couple of years. During this time she prayed to God for a healing miracle; he answered her prayers. Her words, “God didn’t only heal me, he saved me and God gave me the gift of HEALING. Every time, I pray for someone sick they get better or healed—I am on the battlefield for the Lord to the day I die”.

Amanda loved her children and she instilled Christian values in them, taught them to love and support each other, but most of all to love the Lord. She also made sure that they all had a musical talent by playing an instrument. She also supported her children in sports driving them from place to place for their practices and games.

While living in Kenosha, Amanda taught HeadStart and worked for Abbott Laboratories as a Lab Technician. She was also an avid Seamstress who loved to make beautiful quilts for her children.

After retiring in 1985, Amanda and Wiley moved to Tucson, Arizona. They joined Prince Chapel AME Church. Amanda became active in the church restarting the Sunday School and becoming Sunday School Superintendent. She would drive the church van around town picking up the youth for Sunday School. She was a Missionary, choir member and was appointed a Steward. She drove the YPD members across the country to attend conferences.

She became a Life Member of the Women's Missionary Society in 1997. She held offices on the Local, Area, and Conference levels. Local President - Area YPD Director - Area Chairperson - Conference PME Director - Christian Social Action Chair - Handy Simmons Scholarship Committee. Amanda's Community involvement - Church Women United - World Federation of Methodist Women - Black Women's Club - Eureka Club Member.

Amanda was preceded in death by her husband of 63 years Wiley Turner Jr; parents, Dennis and Rosie Lee Roby; brothers, Jimmy Roby, and a brother who died in infancy; sisters, Ruth Mae Cummings, Lucy Anderson, Alice Bedford; son's Dennis Arnell (Chuckle) Turner, Jack Perkins. (Gwin). She leaves to cherish her memories, children: Linda Turner, Donnie Rose Smith (Willie, deceased), Jacquelyne Cotton, Constance Willis(Jeryl), Wiley (Bubble) Turner (VeRhonda), Steven Turner ( Sherrell), Karen Turner, Ralph Turner ( Marcia); sisters: Ella Rose Ferguson, Muessetta Wise (Herbert), Barbara Jean Hill; 32 grandchildren, 79 great grandchildren, 28 great-great grandchildren, 3 God-daughters Michelle Robinson, Chantelle Wise, Tamecca Wilcoxon Russell; God-son Douglas Wise. A host of nieces, nephews, family members and friends.