Lois Seay Turner, 86, native of Fredericksburg, Virginia, died September 6, 2021. She was a loving and devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother. She will be greatly missed by her family.
She is survived by her children: Stephen Turner of Charlottesville, Pamela Smith of Panama City Beach, Florida, Michael Turner of Spotsylvania; 10 grandchildren, 6 great-grandchildren; sister: Harriet Shelton of Silver Spring, Maryland. She was predeceased by her husband of 57 years, Trevor Turner.
As the wife of a United Methodist minister and an U.S. Army chaplain, she supported her husband in his parish work and ministry to soldiers and their families. As result of their nomad life, she established many homes in many places and went on many travel adventures within the United States and Canada as well as in Asia, Central America, Europe, Africa, and Australia.
As first lady to her husband’s tenure as president at Randolph-Macon Academy for sixteen years, she assisted in the development and improvement of the Academy by organizing many events, functions, including fundraising. She was instrumental in the interior design of new and existing buildings. She also loved helping students, either ones who sought her out or she thought needed some extra attention or care. It could be a homesick student or a boarding female cadet, she was there for them.
In retirement years, she helped raise funds for Joe Gibb’s Youth for Tomorrow program, Relay for Life of the American Cancer Society, and brought Christian music to local nursing homes and assisted living facilities through Hillcrest United Methodist Church’s Hillcrest singers.
Family was important to her, and she hosted countless family gatherings on holidays and during the summer months.
There will be a celebration of her life at Hillcrest United Methodist Church, Fredericksburg, on Saturday, September 25, at 10:30 a.m., with a viewing one hour preceding. The Reverend Justin Williams, pastor of Hillcrest, officiating.
A picnic lunch will follow the service at Loriella Park, Shelter A.
A graveside service at Arlington National Cemetery will be held at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, donations in honor of Mrs. Turner may be made to Randolph-Macon Academy’s Lois and Trevor Turner Endowed Scholarship, 200 Academy Drive, Front Royal, VA 22630; Hillcrest United Methodist Church, 2208 Lafayette Boulevard, Fredericksburg, VA 22401; Relay for Life, PO Box 4110, Glen Allen, VA 23058; and Youth for Tomorrow, 11835 Hazel Circle Drive, Bristow, VA 20136.