Peter Gregory Turnbull

Peter Gregory Weddell Damian Turnbull was born on May 30, 1951 in Welwyn Garden City, England to Douglas and Paula Turnbull. The oldest of eight, Peter and his family moved back and forth between the U.K., Georgia, and California multiple times, before he graduated from Marietta High School in 1969. A political activist and athlete, Peter helped found the Marietta High School soccer team and ran a political organization from his parents’ Hope St. basement as a teenager.
He met the love of his life, Stephanie Caswell Turnbull, at Georgia State University in 1970 and they became the first couple to marry in Midtown Atlanta’s Fox Theater on November 30, 1974. They were living in Grant Park in East Atlanta when their sons Doug and Stephen were born. The Turnbull family eventually moved near Decatur, in DeKalb County, where Peter and Stephanie most recently lived.
Peter was an active jack of all trades at Clairmont Baptist Church, inviting in the homeless, cooking for the congregation, and helping with repairs. Peter got baptized and became an official member in 2014. He relished deep philosophical Bible studies with elders in the church and often collected the offering on Sundays.
Peter had an eclectic taste in groundbreaking music, having seen dozens of the biggest acts in music history. He was a voracious reader and was an amateur expert on dozens of subjects, including bird watching. He loved trivia and Peter-led trivia teams won multiple matches at restaurants around Atlanta. He was always the champion in home “Jeopardy” competitions. His knowledge, whimsical quips, and conversational charm meant he never met a stranger.
Peter was a builder and general contractor for 40 years, running his own crews constructing houses and buildings in the 1970s and ‘80s. His love for historical buildings manifested itself in his work on buildings all over Atlanta and he managed over 200 properties during this time. Even the Turnbull home dates back almost 100 years.
Peter retired in 2016, but still worked several jobs for neighbors and often out of the goodness of his heart. He displayed his love for others time and again with various apartment tenants and customers from different backgrounds. They loved and adored him.
On September 28th, 2017, Peter passed away from complications after head injuries and several health problems. He is survived by his wife Stephanie, sons Doug (Sarah) and Stephen, his mom Paula, his siblings Fiona, Iain, Jamie, Robbie, Helen Goody (Jeff), and Rowena Magrecki (Tom), and nephews and nieces Chris Turnbull-Grimes, Matthew Dilley-Turnbull, Adam Magrecki, Jordan Magrecki, Lucas Turnbull, and Gregor Goody. Peter is preceded in death by his father Douglas and younger brother Paul. A loving and brilliant husband, father, son, brother, uncle, and friend, Peter Turnbull will certainly be missed.
A private graveside service at Arlington Cemetery in Sandy Springs will precede a public memorial service on Saturday, October 7th, at 5:30 p.m. at Clairmont Baptist Church in Brookhaven.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to Clairmont Baptist Church at this link or to:
Clairmont Baptist Church
3542 Clairmont Road
Brookhaven, Ga. 30319
James 1:12 (NIV): Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.