Evelyn Turner saluted last month for 100th birthday
by Jane Cutler –
It is altogether fitting that last month, on the occasion of her 100th birthday, the Virginia General Assembly commended longtime Deltaville resident Evelyn Stearns Turner “for her lifetime of achievements and service to her community.” Listed as part of House Resolution 752 are but a few of her numerous contributions to the lives of her fellow citizens.
These contributions include:
- To education — She has served as a member of the Jefferson High School Foundation and the Ferrum College Board of Trustees.
- To musical arts — She has served as a member of both the Roanoke Symphony Society and the Roanoke Symphony Association.
- To churches
- To the Miss Virginia Pageant
- To the Roanoke Civic Center Advisory Board (the only woman on that board and on which she had her own monogrammed hard hat)
- To the Junior League
- To various garden clubs
- To the Deltaville Maritime Museum and Holly Point Nature Park
- To the Deltaville Community Association
In her late 70s, Turner was instrumental in the publication of “A Portrait of Deltaville 2001,” which was described as “an informative book on the history of this unique community — dedicated to the people of Deltaville — born-heres, been-heres and come-heres — who make Deltaville a very special place.”
Evelyn Stearns was born July 14, 1922 in Richmond, the youngest of three children. She has fond memories of “the Stearns caravan” trekking to the Rappahannock River for summers. “We had the best time” is a frequent refrain as she described various occasions in her life. As a teenager, Turner was determined to be “a woman of the world” and after high school went to work at a local bank instead of college.
About the same time, as war time loomed, she and her girlfriends were dating soldiers at Camp Lee. It wasn’t long before she noticed Andy Turner across the dance floor, pronouncing him “the best looking man I’ve ever seen.” The feelings were mutual and the couple married on April 10, 1943 in a military wedding (after receiving approval from her bosses at the bank). Thirteen months later Andy Turner was deployed to India; Evelyn Turner moved back home, and back to her job at the bank, this time as an exchange teller of foreign currency.
She recalled a humorous experience one Friday afternoon near closing, when she was eager to race to the golf course with friends.
A young boy came in with a sack of pennies to buy a war bond. Duty first: Evelyn Turner patiently counted out the pennies; no golf that day!
She also served as a nurse’s aid in the barracks in Petersburg, taking pulses and temperatures. She remembers her smart blue cap with the white American Red Cross band and uniform.
When Andy Turner returned from World War II, the couple moved to Roanoke where he went to work for his father at a wholesale confectioners store. The couple lived in an eight-unit apartment with other Virginia Military Institute grads. Again, Evelyn Turner said, “We had the best time” as the wives gathered in the front yard, socializing as they waited for their husbands to come home from work.
Five years and two children later, they moved into a larger house and soon two more babies arrived. Some years later, Andy Turner’s two young nephews were welcomed into the Turner home, sharing the sun porch bedroom with their cousin. Evelyn Turner became the mother of six children even as she continued her many volunteer activities in the community. She was selected as Mother of the Year in 1969 in Roanoke.
Meanwhile Evelyn Turner’s mother sold the family summer home at the Rappahannock River, but wanted another “water house.” When they saw the big walnut tree at a house on Deltaville’s Fishing Bay Road, they knew they were “home.” Eventually the Turners moved into that house and she immersed herself in volunteering in Deltaville. The family created many wonderful memories there, overlooking both Jackson Creek and Fishing Bay. That lovely home remains in the family, while Evelyn Turner now resides at Heron Cove in Gloucester. (Andy Turner passed away in 2009 at 90 while holding Evelyn Turner’s hand.)
Evelyn Turner attracts friends of all ages and is curious about everyone she meets. Once, while in Pakistan visiting her daughter in the Foreign Service, she was found in the restaurant’s back office chatting away with a Pakistani woman who had a daughter at Hollins College.
There are seemingly minor but fun traits that describe Evelyn Turner: Lady of Bling, for wearing rings and necklaces with flashing lights and always wearing lipstick. Among her first questions after waking up from one surgery was, “Where’s my lipstick?”
A major quality of Turner is that she does not linger on sad, even tragic events; as one might imagine, during her long life she has known quite a few. She focuses on the good, and on others.
Perhaps her favorite quote is, “There is no problem that can’t be solved by love.” And love she does, and she is beloved by family and scores of friends.
It is appropriate that the Virginia General Assembly commendation concludes with: “Evelyn Turner has imparted her kindness, generosity, and grace to her children Sydney Marshall, Drew, Leslie, Courtney, Bob, and Mike, as well as to her 10 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.” Happy 100th birthday, Evelyn Turner.
(Evelyn Turner’s friend, Dr. Jane Park Cutler, is a retired social worker who continues to be concerned about the well-being of others. She and her husband, Dr. Gordon Cutler, have called Deltaville home for more than 13 years. She now serves on the advisory board of the River Counties Community Foundation. Her email address is jane.park.cutler@gmail.com.)
