On January 5, 2010, Mamie Virginia Binford Turner slipped the bonds of earth and embarked on a journey to live with the Lord. She found strength and consolation in the promise of Jesus that He would come and receive her unto Himself. Even as we suffer the pain of our great loss, we praise God for her love of Jesus Christ. After an illness of nearly thirty-nine years and a keen sense that the time of her departure was at hand, her desires were granted and she joyfully answered the sterling call of Jesus. When at last grown tired and weary with the toil of many years I shall go to dwell in Glory, far beyond this vale of tears I will find my sorrows ended, and my trials forever o er For the Saviour will be with me, he will leave me nevermore When at last the dear home faces vanish from my fading sight And I bid farewell forever to this world of sin and night I shall see amid the Glory faces that I used to know And await the joyful coming of the dear ones left below When at last I rise triumphant to the many mansions fair And behold my Saviour standing by the portals over there It will be reward sufficient just to gaze upon His face Just to learn the hidden secret of His matchless, saving grace ~Oswald J. Smith Born July 2, 1943, Mamie was affectionately known as Beady to her family and friends. She was the eighth of ten children born to the late Richard and Virgie Batts Binford. She took pride and privilege in being the baby girl of the family, and the apple of her father s eye. Of her siblings, Mamie was preceded in death by; Mary Lee, Leroy, Theodore, Marvin and Lessie. She was a quiet and loving sister whose siblings cherish the early years of fun and friendship, and the latter years when their eyes were opened to the Grace of God that bonded and sustained them, and drew them even closer. Mamie demonstrated her love for Jesus in her youth. She openly confessed the Lord Jesus as her savior, and joined the Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church in Toney, Alabama, at the age of twelve. She loved her church and its people, and was devoted and faithful to each until God called her home. Even though she was reared in Sunday school, participated in the Junior Missionary Society and helped organize the Youth Choir, her greatest passion was singing praises to the Lord. She acquired the love of music at an early age and began singing with her older sisters, Nannie and Collie, at Round Island Creek Missionary Baptist Association meetings, and at Mount Zion and Pine Grove Missionary Baptist Churches. As a child, Mamie was active in various sports and outdoor recreational activities; however, she experienced persistent problems with her throat and voice. It wasn t until the mid-seventies, that surgery was performed in an attempt to correct the problems. At that time, a trachea was installed, thus silencing the golden soprano voice that had resonated from within Choir Number II (presently, The Anointed Voices of Praise) for so long. Even that didn t diminish her love for music, and she continued to sing from the pew, even though her voice was barely above a whisper. Because of her long tenure and leadership role, in Choir Number II, she continued to attend rehearsals, serving as an advisor and encourager and never resigned her membership. Her love for music continues as she undoubtedly sings in the Angelic Choir. Mamie attended elementary and junior high school in Toney, Alabama, where local Black churches supplemented the school s inadequate facilities, and under girded the spiritual training of Black students. Because of this, Mamie was never far from the Word of God. That Word, and her faith in God, nurtured her during her formative years and sustained her as age and illness tore at her mortal frame. She graduated from the Councill Training School, Normal, Alabama in 1961 and began a career teaching children enrolled in day-care and kindergarten. The majority of her career was under the employment of Child s World Day Care Center in Huntsville, Alabama. At Child s World, she received many accolades and gifts from parents as well as students. Even now, her students speak highly of her, and are overwhelmed with joy when reminiscing about her. During that time, she completed a series of early childhood development courses at Alabama A & M University, to enhance her teaching skills. As a nightcap to her short career, Mamie developed a love for floral design, and became proficient in creating table arrangements, boutonnieres and corsages for various events at Mount Zion. She also created floral arrangements for weddings and special occasions for friends and family throughout North Alabama. She was often called the Flower Arranger, and insisted that visitors who came to admire her artisanship take samples of her work with them. On June 9, 1961, Mamie was married to Jimmy Lee Turner, the love of her life, who would devote the next forty-nine years to the admiration and care for his precious Bay. From the onset of their courtship, and throughout their marriage, Mamie was the center of Jimmy Turner s life. During the latter years and as her health deteriorated, Jimmy cared for her unselfishly, with gentle love and compassion that is seldom equaled. Even as she suffered with diseases that her doctors didn t understand and modern technologies couldn t eradicate, she knew that she was favored by God, and loved beyond measure by her husband, her family and her friends. God blessed Mamie and Jimmy Turner with nine children, two of whom preceded her in death, Keith and Kevin. Mamie often told her children that singing was her way of speaking God s Word. After she became ill and unable to sing, she related that a song was always in her heart. She endured her illness without complaints, and repeatedly made remarkable recoveries, even when the chips were down and the prognosis looked bleak. She preached the gospel of Jesus to her children throughout her adult life, assuring them that there were Godly ordained reasons for her illness. She believed that regardless of the suffering, God was great, worthy to be praised, and always in control. Loving memories of her will remain in the hearts of: Her husband: Jimmy Lee Turner of Huntsville, Alabama Her children: Alan Tyrone, Karl (Inez), Andra, and Marcus (Brandi), of Huntsville, Alabama; Sharon (Dennis) Walker, of Waldorf, Maryland; Kim (William) Holloway; and Rena (Reginald) Leslie of Huntsville, Alabama Her siblings: Carl (Victoria) Binford; Katherine James and Nannie (Julius) Washington of Toney, Alabama; and Collie Rose of Indianapolis, Indiana Her grandchildren, great-grand children, nieces, nephews, one uncle, aunts, three brothers in-law, four sisters in-law, relatives and friends, and her beloved and devoted family at Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church The life of Mamie Virginia Binford Turner sparkled with the qualities and attributes of humanity that sickness, disappointment nor could death diminish. As a wife, mother, and grandmother, her love and devotion were complete; as a family member and friend, her attitude, connection and compassion were solid; as a christian, her faith was unshaken, even as the storm clouds of sickness and death overshadowed her mortal life. As we bid farewell to our beloved Bay, Mother, Granny and Beady, It would please her that we love one another as Christ loved us; that we grow in faith, wisdom and strength using Christ Jesus as our solid foundation; and, that the purity of our testimonies be tempered by the depth of our commitments, and the extent of our service. Funeral service will be held at 12:00 Noon on Monday, January 11, 2010, at the Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church (710 Dan Crutcher Road, Toney, AL 35773) with Pastor Ernest Williams, Sr., Officiating. In ternment will be in Turner Cemetery.