Mr. Samuel Clifton Turner, a lifelong resident of Wetumpka, Alabama, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, September 21, 2022.
The family will receive friends, Friday, September 23, 2022 at 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at Gassett Funeral Home. Funeral service will be held Saturday, September 24, 2022 at 3:00 p.m. at First Baptist Church of Wetumpka with Rev. Clint Landry officiating. Burial will be at Wetumpka City Cemetery with Gassett Funeral Home of Wetumpka directing.
Sam was born August 30, 1933, in Wetumpka, Alabama, to Clifton E. Turner and Voncile Haynie Turner. His paternal grandparents were William Ocie Turner and Lula Ann Moseley Turner of Wetumpka and his maternal grandparents were Allen Haynie and Minnie Lee Singleton Haynie of Santuck.
He graduated from Wetumpka High School in the class of 1951. He was a charter member of the Elmore County Band, under the direction of Truman Welch. He went on to play in the University of Alabama’s Million Dollar Band and graduated from the University in 1957. He spent two years in the United States Army, 1954-1956. While in the army, he was a member of the 3rd Army Band.
He married Beverly Ann Pierce of Mobile, Alabama, on July 11, 1959, and they were married for 59 years.
Sam was a member of the First Baptist Church of Wetumpka and served as head usher for decades. He was a member of the Wetumpka Fire Department and the Wetumpka Lions Club for over 50 years. He served as a member of the Board of Directors of 1st National Bank of Wetumpka and First Community Bank. He was on the Elmore Community Hospital Board and Elmore County Economic Development Board.
Pallbearers will be Houston Gibbons, Bobby Barrett, John Abrams, Ed Reeves, Brent Turner, and Don Johnson. Honorary pallbearers will be the Wetumpka Fire Department, Wetumpka Lions Club, and the Christ Crusaders/Crystal Sunday School Class.
Sam is survived by his daughters Beverly Turner Mack (Dean) of Wetumpka and Leigh Turner Vines (Michael) of Brentwood, Tennessee; granddaughters Ashley Kristen Mack and Katie Mack Norton (Tyler) of Wetumpka and grandsons Samuel Thomas Vines and Mitchell Pierce Vines of Brentwood, Tennessee.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Wetumpka Lions Club.