Thomas Turner

Thomas Raleigh Turner, 68, died March 5, 2005, at Peachtree Christian Hospice, after battling pancreatic cancer for two years. A beloved husband, father, grandfather and colleague, Mr. Raleigh Turner is survived by his wife, Gretchen Turner of Atlanta; his former wife, Rochelle McClain Turner of Pine Mountain, Ga.; two brothers, Lawrence (spouse Mary Ellen) of Dallas, Texas; Harris (spouse Arliss) of Mt. Dora, Fla.; a sister, the Rev. Sue Hardman (spouse Rob) of Arlington, Va.; three sons, Thomas Raleigh Jr. (spouse Rosemary) of Houston, Texas; Mark Albert (spouse Diana) of Woodstock, Ga., and Christopher Lee (spouse Michelle) of Pendergrass, Ga.; seven grandchildren, Elizabeth, Thomas Raleigh (?T.R.?) III, Becky, Will, Rachel, John Allen, Jake; and four nephews, Jack, Rob, Sam and Tom. Born Oct. 6, 1936, in Miami to Betty and Jack Turner, Raleigh Turner graduated from Edison Senior High in 1955. He earned a degree in building construction in 1963 from Georgia Tech. While at university, he was in the Air Force Reserve from 1954 to 1963. He worked for Shell Oil Co. as a field engineer from 1963 until 1972, living in Chattanooga, Nashville and Atlanta. In 1972, he founded Turner and Associates Inc. and participated in building projects around Atlanta until 1992. He started managing mini warehouses in 1990 and joined Universal Management Co. in 1994. He continued in many roles in management until his retirement in 2004.

Throughout his life, Raleigh Turner was an example and role model for his three sons. He was active in the community, having coached and coordinated Little League football and baseball at Northeast Athletic Association from 1970 until 1985. He was named ?Volunteer of the Year? in 1985 by DeKalb County Leisure Services. He was a member of the Decatur Masonic Lodge, Toastmasters and the Northeast Rotary Club. An active Presbyterian since 1970, Raleigh Turner served as an Elder and Sunday school teacher at Church of the New Covenant Presbyterian in Doraville.

Memorial services will be held at 2 p.m. March 13, 2005, at Church of the New Covenant, 3330 Chestnut Drive, Doraville 30340. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to his church or to the National Institutes of Health, Pancreatic Cancer Research Projects, 9000 Rockville Pike Bethesda, Maryland 20892.