Mary Zoller Turner

June 11, 1925 - October 22, 2024

On October 22, 2024, Mary Z. Turner, age 99, passed away. She was born on June 11, 1925 at Savannah, Georgia. Her parents were Walter and Berta Irene (Reisser) Zoller. She had three brothers, Virgil H. Zoller, Walter M. Zoller, and Frank R. Zoller. On February 10, 1926, her mother died, when she was nine months old. That same year after her mother died, her father brought her three brothers to their grandmother's farm about 3 ½ miles north of Springfield. Their grandmother (Mrs. Ella Victoria (Gnann) Reisser) and two of her children, Herbert A. Reisser and Ellis L. Reisser, who were unmarried and who had both stayed on the old farm, and they raised the three brothers. At age 13 months, her father brought her to be raised by her aunt Annie Mae (Reisser) Exley and her uncle Leon Grady Exley. She was raised with her four first cousins, Rebecca Exley (later Rebecca E. Wilson), Edwin R. Exley, Arthur H. Exley and Preston G. Exley. They thought of her as their sister.

She attended school at Clyo, Georgia and graduated from high school in 1942. During World War II, she served as a civilian volunteer in the Army Air Forces Aircraft Warning Service as an Aircraft Observer.

From 1942 to 1947 she worked in Springfield, Georgia in the office of the Effingham County Agent and Home Demonstration Agent. In the fall of 1946, she met a high school teacher named T. J. Turner who had come to teach at the Effingham Academy in Springfield. On November 27, 1947 they got married. T. J. Turner became the principal of the Egypt, Georgia Elementary School and they moved to Egypt, Georgia. In 1949 he became the principal of the Clyo, (Georgia) Elementary and High School and they lived in Springfield. She worked as the Deputy Clerk of Court of Effingham County in the early 1950s. During the 1950s and 1960s she worked in different positions in the Court House in Springfield (clerk of court's office, ordinary's office selling car tags and tax assessors' office). She also worked in the local Agricultural Department (U.S.D.A.) ASCS office during periods when they needed additional help. T. J. Turner became the principal of Springfield Elementary School in September 1956. She later became the school secretary, which she served under three principals and retired after working 19 years.  She was a member of the Springfield Oaks Church.

She was preceded in death by her husband, T. J. Turner, who she was married to for 59 years, died on July 19, 2007. Her daughter-in-law Mary Hundley (Harper) Turner died on August 11, 2015 and her great-grandson Micah A. Breda died on June 12, 2021.

She is survived by her two children Norman V. Turner and Jocelyn T. (Richard) Porter, two grand-daughters, Audrey T. (James) Breda and Amy T. (Gary) Hart and four great-grandsons, Grayson J. Breda, Liam H. Breda, Brantley R. Hart, and Nolan V. Breda and two great-granddaughters, Rylee Jane Breda and Hundley M. Hart, all of Guyton, Georgia and several nieces and nephews.

Graveside funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Friday, October 25, 2024 in the Union Cemetery (also known as Keiffer Cemetery).

In lieu of flowers donations may be given to Springfield Oaks Church, 210 Cleveland Street, Springfield, GA 31329.

Thomas C. Strickland & Sons Funeral Home, Effingham Chapel. 912-754-6421