Funeral services will be Friday, April 23, 2021 at 11:00 a.m., Christ the King Catholic Church, 2303 John R. Lynch Street, Jackson, MS 39209 with burial Saturday, April 24, 2021 at 1:00 p.m., Wilson Cemetery in Covington, LA.
On Saturday, April 10, 2021, Marian Laurent Turner of Jackson, Mississippi, passed away at the age of 96. Marian was born on July 6, 1924, in Covington, Louisiana, to Daisy (McGill) and Van Laurent. She matriculated at Xavier University in New Orleans, Louisiana, and received her Bachelor of Arts degrees in Liberal Arts and Elementary Education and her Masters degree in Elementary Education. On December 30, 1948, she married Cornelius Turner and they reared four daughters: Lisa, Sheila, Adrianne, and Dorian.
From 1951 to 1986 Marian was employed by Jackson Public Schools (JPS), as an elementary school teacher, where she taught Reading and Language Arts at multiple elementary schools. She eventually moved to JPS central office where she worked with teachers focusing on reading instruction. Her love for reading and correct grammar were defining traits throughout her life, and she was renowned for sharing/teaching these traits and imbuing her students with a similar love. After leaving JPS, Marian worked for Hinds Community College for two years establishing an adult basic education program at Delphi Packard Electric in Clinton, Mississippi. From there she worked as a docent at the Governor’s Mansion during the Ray Mabus administration and after that, for the next thirteen years, as a docent at City Hall in Jackson, Mississippi, during the Kane Ditto and Harvey Johnson administrations. She ended her career working with the Barksdale Reading Institute where she helped teachers develop tutorial aids for kids. She finally retired in 2003.
While Marian was an accomplished woman with many talents, her most exceptional talent was her ability to connect and develop a rapport with people. Throughout her life she exuded a warmth, caring, and understanding that resonated with anyone who knew her and made her the heart of her family and oftentimes a surrogate mom to family friends. Two of her favorite activities were shopping and dining out which usually led to her becoming a “regular” at her favorite vendors. She was also a devout Catholic.
Marian is survived by her three daughters Lisa, Adrianne, and Dorian Turner; her grandchildren Amber (Mercury) Hall, Brandon (Devon) Washington, and Angel Lagunas; her great grandchildren Yana Hall and Cru Washington; her sister Daisy Blume; and her brother Willie Laurent. She was preceded in death by her husband Cornelius Turner; her daughter Sheila Washington; her parents Daisy and Van Laurent; her sister Dorothy Route; and her brothers Elvin, Van Jr., Leonard, Roy, Terry, and Harold Laurent. Marian will always be remembered for the love and devotion she brought to everyone and everything in her life, her effortless charm, and her remarkable strength.
The family will be offering Zoom services, the ID # 2879990393, passcode is 2468.
