Harold Turner, 100

Beloved, revered and time honored Okolona resident, Harold A. Turner, better known as Mr. T. to most, crossed the chilling waters of Jordan from NMMC in Tupelo after a spectacular 100 year earthly pilgrimage. Mr. Turner was a Chickasaw County native born in on April 4, 1922 to the late Allen Charles “AC” Turner and Gola Mae Aston Turner. He grew up with 7 siblings on a scratch farm working with mules and his hands. It was this rough start that taught Mr. T valuable life lessons of working hard, being honest, being kind, endurance and serving God and Country.

He attended school in Okolona and Egypt but answered the call of duty to serve his country in World War II before entering the 12th grade. PFC Turner went through basic training at Fort Fisher, NC and, in 1942, was sent overseas on the SS Pasteur. By this time a Spec 6, he became a master chef who was completely committed to caring for his fellow soldiers nutritional needs. He ultimately was a part of the mighty brigade that stormed Omaha Beach in Normandy in the Battle of the Bulge.

Soldier Turner returned home to Okolona in 1946, continued work on the family farm and served as a helper in Davis’ General Store on Main. He married his sweetheart of 72 years, Lois Pickens Turner on June 30, 1949. She died on July 11, 2021. Fourteen years later, he purchased the store which became Turner’s Grocery/Feed and Seed, a full service grocery and feed store which was an exclusive provider of Purina products to area farmers and ranchers. He won many trips for top sales through his furniture store including one to Skagway, Alaska which he and Mrs. Turner greatly enjoyed.

He later founded and ran Turner’s Furniture Company in Downtown Okolona, later becoming Turner/ Rogers Furniture. He and Mrs. Lois founded Turner’s Flowers and Gifts over 35 years ago which is still in the family under the leadership of daughter, Harolyn. Mr. T. loved the outdoors, the woods and streams, bird hunting, raising his horses and cattle on his farm and being a bird dog owner and trainer. Mr. T loved nothing better than storytelling and mastered the art, ultimately becoming one of the foremost “shade tree” historians and storytellers in Chickasaw County and Okolona.

His warm personality, his sharp, analytical mind and his God given sense of humor endeared him to thousands of grateful friends over his long life. Mr. Turner was a faithful, supportive member of First Baptist Church-Okolona for over 70 years. He was among Okolona’s most cherished, admired and solid citizens. He always put others over himself and was a servant leader all his 100 purpose filled years. Just recently, he made a great statement to his family sharing his faith and optimism by saying, “Whether I go or whether I stay, either way, I will be OK”. That was our Mr. T.!!! Oh, how he will be missed!!

A celebration of life service will be held at 2 PM Saturday, January 28, 2022 at First Baptist Church in Okolona with Rev. Dr. Randy Lewman and Dr. Roy McHenry officiating. Visitation will be from 4 PM to 6 PM on Friday at the Okolona Chapel of Holland Funeral Directors and from 1PM until Service Time Saturday at the church. Burial will follow in Oddfellows Cemetery. Holland Funeral Directors-Okolona Chapel is honored to serve their friends.

Mr. Turner is survived by his daughters; Sarah Joy Turner Brewer (Benji) of Madison and Harolyn Turner Flynt (Rick) of Okolona; grandchildren, Katelyn Kelly (Jesse) of Okolona, and Ridge Flynt of Okolona; two great-grandchild, Canyon Ridge Kelly of Okolona and Adelaide Belle Kelly; his brother, Ray Turner (Mazelle), his sisters, Patsy Turner Stevens (Bud) and Margaret Ware all of Okolona; brother-in-law, Glen Pickens (Ruby Jean) of Springfield, MO. and a host of nieces and nephews and their families. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Lois and his siblings: Annie Lou Clark, Mildred Ogg and Nell Johnson

Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church, 201 West Main St., Okolona, MS 38860. Condolences may be emailed to hollandfuneraldirectors@comcast.net.