Terrell “Terry” C. Turner, a fifth-generation North Carolinian, died Nov. 1, 2015, at his Kure Beach home. He was 69.
His early childhood was in Winston-Salem but he moved with his parents to Southport in 1959, Carolina Beach in 1961 and two years later, to Kure Beach. He graduated from New Hanover High School in 1964 and was a member of the track team. He studied several years at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and was inspired by Louis Rubin’s course in 20th century fiction.
He was later drafted into the Army and was assigned to Seoul, South Korea, working in communications. He reached the rank of sergeant E5. He worked in data processing for UNC in the 1970s and later as a cook at the Crow’s Nest in Kure Beach. After his mother died in 1978, he was caretaker of his father for a decade.
Terry was the son of the late Reginald Turner and Marie Terrell Turner, who were public school administrators and teachers. His oldest brother, James R. Turner, of Greensboro, preceded him in death.
He is survived by two brothers, Wilfred Turner and wife Elena, of New Bern and Walter Turner and wife Pamela, of Wadesboro; nieces, Susannah Harvell, of Greensboro and Natalie Turner, of Austin, Texas; and nephews, William Turner, of Charlotte and Eric Turner, of New Bern.
His passion was following UNC basketball teams. He loved old movies (such as “Casablanca”), classic rock and folk rock, especially Bob Dylan and the Rolling Stones. Terry was a beloved brother, uncle and friend to all who knew him.
The funeral will be held at 3 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 5, 2015, at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church in Carolina Beach with the Rev. Shawn Blackwelder officiating.
Novelist Thomas Wolfe wrote that “You can’t go home again.” Even though the Turner family lived in various towns and cities in North Carolina, Terry Turner and his family loved the community of Kure Beach. Except for the Army years, Terry’s home was here for 50 years.
Please leave online condolences for the family at Andrews Mortuary.
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