Martha Matilda (Parker) Turrentine

Mrs. Martha Matilda Parker Turrentine, daughter of the late John R. and Pearlie Mae Parker, was born on April 4, 1928 in Edgecombe County, North Carolina.  She departed this life on Sunday, April 7, 2019 in her home.

She was educated in the Edgecombe County Public Schools and continued her education in Durham to become one of the students in the first/second class of (LPN)-Licensed Practical Nurse.

She began her career at Duke Hospital where she met her eventual husband, Nathaniel Turrentine whom she married in 1951.  To this union two children were born, Nathaniel Lamont and Barbara Jean.  Her husband and son along with siblings, Thelma, Queen, Hattie, Mattie, Lena and Lemond and grandchild Xaviera McLean preceded her in death.

She worked in New York at Greenpoint Hospital and became a member of Mt. Lebanon Baptist Church, Brooklyn, N.Y. She was involved in the missionary and traveled to Baptist Conventions in various states.

She relocated back to North Carolina and settled in Durham and was employed by UNC Hospitals where she retired.  She was a faithful member of Mount Vernon Baptist Church of Durham until relocating to Chapel Hill, N.C. for over 40 years.  There she became a member of First Baptist Church and was involved as a deaconess and with the missionary committed.  She spent many summers at Baptist Camp for Youth in Laurinburg, N.C.

Nearly six years ago, she relocated to live in Durham with her daughter, Barbara.  She began attending North East Missionary Baptist Church and was a deaconess and affiliated with the missionary committee until declining health prevented her attendance.

Mrs. Turrentine is survived by her daughter, Barbara Turrentine Bowe (James); sister, Louise Holman of Richmond, VA; brother Ezekiel Parker; grandchildren James M. Bowe II, Twyla McLean, Kimily Taylor; great grands Ajiri Byers (Todd), Malwood Tre’ Revels, Tamya McLean; a multitude of cousins, nieces, nephews.

Martha P gathered many children along this life: Michael R. Holland, The Harper Family, The Lyons Family, Carol Wilkerson, Rodney, Ronald, Robert Bowe, and so many more.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Martha Matilda (Parker) Turrentine, please visit our floral store.