Geretha I. Turner

Geretha Ingram Turner, an extraordinary woman, was called into eternal rest on Wednesday, February 14, 2007.Geretha was born to the late James Viney and Lula Wall Ingram on April 6, 1925 in Rockingham, North Carolina. She was the third of five children born to that union. She joined eight other sisters and brothers from her father’s first marriage.Geretha’s early education was completed in the Richmond County Schools, graduating from Rockingham High School. After her father’s death in 1942,the family immigrated to Baltimore,Maryland. There, Geretha completed courses at Cortez Peters Business School and Apex School of Cosmetology.Gretha was a self taught seamstress and tailor extraordinaire and an accomplished Beautician. For many years she worked at Patrick's Custom Tailors and Maxwell's House of Beauty. In 1966, Gretha secured employment with the Social Security Administration as a Key Punch Operator. She retired in 1988.Geretha was married to Walter Ricks, Willie Wiggins and Raymond Turner, Sr. United in marriage to Ray Turner on April 2,1967, Geretha was proud and honored to accept his six children, Patricia, Yvonne, Raymond Jr. Raynard, Louise and Tracy as her own. She raised and nurtuared them and their father for 35 years.As the last survivor of the orginial 13 siblings, Geretha or "Aunt Ge", became surrogate Mother to all the generations of her nieces and nephews. She has been the Matriarch of this branch of the Ingram family for the last fifteen years.In 1943, Geretha joined the Pennsylvania Avenue A.M.E. Zion Church. She joined the Senior/Sanctuary Choir and enjoyed singing beautiful anthems. She was known for singing solo on the song "Seeking for a City". She was a Sunday School Teacher and a dedicated advisor to the Youth of the Church. However, Geretha experienced her greatest joy in administering to the sick and shut-in. She considered this her Ministry. She was a charter member of the Life-Line Ministry of Pennsylvania Avenue A.M.E. Zion Church, eventually serving as the President of that organization.Geretha was strong willed and nurturing. Many will remember her as a person who worked hard and gave wise counsel whenever requested.She leaves to cherish her memory: three special nieces, Joan Cowan Jones(Ulysses)of Baltimore,Maryland; Marjorie Cowan Rallins of Eanston, Illimois and Dorothy Colette Jackson(Ronald) of Glen Burnie,Maryland and a host of nieces,nephews other relatives and friends.

Tributes

Geretha I. Turner

April 6, 1925 - February 14, 2007