Matilda June Turner

Loving Mother and Grandmother

Matilda June Turner, 86, passed away on September 22, 2024.

Matilda June was born on October 4, 1937, to Matilda and Dr. Junius Vann.  She grew up in Spring Hope, North Carolina. She cherished her home in Spring Hope for all of her life. When she was young, she enjoyed playing the saxophone in the school band, cheerleading, and many school leadership roles. She was selected as the most popular girl in the senior class and the most talkative. Both of which are no surprise if you knew Matilda June. Matilda married her elementary school sweetheart, Shelton Turner, on February 27th, 1960. They were lovingly married for 63 years.

She earned her bachelor’s degree at East Carolina University and went on to earn her master’s degree in social work. While caring for her three children, she worked as a Social Worker and Crisis Counselor in Prince George’s County, Maryland.

Matilda June led her family with absolute unconditional love. Her generosity was endless, and her love of Jesus was vast. She loved to share stories of her life in great detail and connect with her loved ones through letters. There was never a moment too small for her to celebrate or time that she would not give to show her loved ones that she cared.

Her favorite pastimes were traveling the world with her loving husband, making her loved ones laugh, planning ways for her family to spend time together, and keeping wholesome family traditions alive. She spent her summers with her children and husband in Oak Island, North Carolina, and later on her grandchildren and great-grandchildren joined her every year.

Matilda June was a vivacious, kind, loving, hilarious and strong-willed woman, her strength has been woven into the lives of generations to follow. She is preceded in death by her husband, Shelton Turner, and daughter, Deborah Turner. She is survived by her children, Edwin Turner and Matilda (Robert) Nelson. Her grandchildren, Alexandra (Joseph), Christopher (Carson), Daene, Emily (John), Benjamin, Ethan (Sarah), and Madison. Her great-grandchildren, Charlie, Joseph, Teagan, Luca, John, June, Kai, and Aurora June.