George Cordell Turner, Jr.
1937 ~ 2019
Date of Death: December 26, 2019
In profound sadness, the staff of Veasley Funeral Home & Cremations, Inc. want to express our sincere condolences to the Turner family. George’s earthly temple is now resting in the care of Veasley Funeral Home. Revelations 21:4 says "And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death; nor sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain, for the former things are passed away." Be assured that in the days ahead you will surely gain strength from the memories of Mr. George Cordell Turner, Jr.
Sincerely,
Derrick Veasley ~ Director
Henry Veasley ~ Director
Pastor E.C. Maltbia ~ Chaplain
The Life and Times of George Cordell Turner, Jr.
George was born June 3rd, 1937 in Pine Bluff, Arkansas to George C. Turner Sr. and Mary L (Johnson) Billingsley. He grew up in McGehee, Arkansas and graduated from Desha county schools. He then attended AM& N college in Pine Bluff, Arkansas and graduated with his Bachelor’s in Political Science. He taught High School in Helena, Arkansas and Conway, Arkansas before moving to Jackson, Michigan where he worked for Consumer Power Company, (a public utility company, now known as Consumers Energy) until he retired in 1998 with over 31 years of service. During his time at Consumer’s Power Company he held several positions and was promoted from head of the company’s college recruiting program to Executive Human Resource Director.
Professional Accomplishments included being the founder of the Michigan Chapter of African-American Blacks in Energy, (AABE). As an avid golfer he instituted an annual scholarship golf tournament through AABE; this golf tournament was renamed in his honor in June 26, 1998. He started a robust minority recruitment process at Historic Black Colleges and Universities for Consumers Power Company, and the development of a Diversity awareness program for Consumers Power Company. He also taught and mentored young men at the Michigan State Prison ofJackson and Juvenile Detention Center.
His civic affiliations include but are not limited to the NAACP, the Jackson Service Club of Jackson Michigan, the Optimist Civic Club of Jackson, Michigan, Member of the Desha Alumni Chapter, McGehee, Arkansas, Manpower Match of Jackson, Michigan and Big Brothers of Jackson, Michigan. These organizations also had fundraising golf tournaments in which George participated.
George's transition from this earthly home was December 26, 2019. He is preceded in death by his parents, George & Victoria Turner of Lake Charles, Louisiana and Mary and Robert Billingsley of Pine Bluff, Arkansas, his sister Rhonda Bian Billingsley of Houston, Texas and his son George Cordell Turner III of Jackson, Michigan.
He leaves behind his daughter Melissa Paschall (Demarco), his grandchildren, DeMarco Paschal II, of Jackson, Michigan, Austin Turner of Conway, Arkansas, Ramses Paschall of Jackson, Michigan, and Ari Turner of Conway, Arkansas, his cousins Marsha Lewis, Libra Lewis, Jonathan Lewis, Joshua Lewis and Justin Lewis all of Houston, Texas and Dorothy Phillips and Ann Robinson of Cincinnati, Ohio as well as many other cousins, friends and family.
The family would like to thank you for all the prayers and well wishes during this our time of grief. In lieu of flowers, please make donations in honor of George C Turner Jr. to his favorite charity St. Jude’s Hospital. https://www.stjude.org/give/memorials-and-dedications.html
Public visitation will be held Friday, January 3, 2020 from 12pm to 4:30pm at Veasley Funeral Home.
Celebration of life will be held Saturday, January 4, 2020, 11:00am at True Holiness Saints Center, 198 Hwy 286 East, Conway, Arkansas 72034.