Albert ‘Fat’ Turner and Ida Jane Greene’s family
Fat Turner (born 03 September 1878) married Ida Jane “Janie” GREENE (born 12 May 1889) daughter of Hugh O’Keefe Greene and Louisiana “Lou” FARR on O 1 December 1907. Fat made his living by farming, hunting, and fishing. Janie was a housewife. They lived on the left just east of the Vanina and Noda TURNER Green house on County Road 2115 where FM 2791 takes a sharp turn left at Forest Hill in Cass County. Their children were brought up singing gospel songs and playing baseball. They were members of Forest Hill Baptist Church and attended any singing school in the area. Fat died with the mumps 13 April 1936. In her later years, Janie lived in her daughter, Jit’s, garage apartment in Atlanta before going to Oak Manor Nursing Home in Linden. She died on 25 September 1972. She and Fat are both buried at Antioch Cemetery in Cass County.
Fat and Janie had a dozen children: 1. Thomas Hugh “Tom” Turner born 24 October 1909. The name Hugh was after his grandfather, Hugh O’Keefee Greene. Tom married Julia SMITH (born 21 February 1915) of El Dorado, Arkansas and had one son, Mickey Van Turner born 30 October 1938. Tom worked for Shell Oil as a production supervisor, but called Farmersville, in Union Parish, Louisiana, home. Julia was a housewife and a talented artist with paintings she had done all over her house. Julia died in July 1995 and Tom died 01 August 1995. They are buried in Bethel Cemetery near El Dorado, Arkansas.
2. William Nebraska “Puddin” Turner born 27 March 1910. The name Nebraska was given because it was from Bee Nebraska GREENE, Puddin’s uncle. Of course, William after his grandfather. Puddin married Alice Elizabeth ROBINSON (born 03 December 1916) daughter of John Henry and Mattie Bertha MORGAN Robinson of Bryan’s Mill in 1942. They made their home on Hiram Street in Atlanta. He was the manager of East Texas Motor Freight for twenty-eight years and a World War II Veteran. Alice had a beauty shop beside their house. They had three children: Diana Elizabeth (born 26 April 26), John William (08 March 1950), and James Kidwell (born 15 March 1956). Puddin died of a heart attack on 22 May 1981. Alice died 7 July 1989. They are both buried in Union Chapel Cemetery, Cass County.
3. Albert Weldon “Rabbit” Turner born 19 September 1911. Rabbit married Eula Moneta “Goat” WOODS (born 30 May 1915) daughter of Pulaska D. and Pearl M. WALLS Woods and had two daughters, Nita Jean TURNER (born 11 November 1936) and Linda TURNER ( 16 March 194 7). They moved to Port Arthur, TX, where Rabbit was a welder with Gulf Port Shipbuilding and Moneta was a housewife. They were married for over fifty years before Moneta died on 3 March 1985. Rabbit died 05 September 1993. They are both buried at Antioch Cemetery in Cass County.
4. Elmer “Sleepy” Turner born 20 March 1913, a twin. See Elmer “Sleepy” Turner Family.
5. Elbert “Doll” Turner born 20 March 1913, a twin. Doll married Ethel Lee ADKINSON (born about 1915). He worked for East Texas Motor Freight in Atlanta for many years as a truck driver. He was well known for giving the ladies in Allen Bros. in Linden a hard time about the Tigers and Rabbits. Doll served in Germany, Belgium, France, and Austria during World War II. He was awarded GV, ETO, and three Battle Stars. Ethel was a housewife. They lived at Forest Hill on the left just passed the Forest Hill Baptist Church in Cass County. They had no children together. Ethel had a daughter, Barbara Sue STONE Poulson, from a previous marriage. Doll died 28 December 1996. He is buried at Antioch Cemetery in Cass County.
6. Lucille Hayden “Sally” TURNER born 10 May 1917. Sally married William Pascal “Pat” Stone (born 5 May 1902). Pat was a widower (Angie Almeda BOBO) and father of twin daughters, Dorothy Almeda and Doris Almeda (17 September 1926). They moved to Chicago where they had an apartment house. Pat died 18 June 1968 in Chicago. Sally moved back to Atlanta a month before she died on 01 May 1989. They had no children. They are buried at Antioch Cemetery in Cass County.
7. Francis Marion “Blackie” born 15 May 1919. The name Francis Marion came from his uncle whose nickname was Heck Greene. Blackie served in Hawaii, Gilberts, Marshalis, and Palau during World War II. He was awarded the GC, APO, and three Battle Stars. Blackie married Dorothy TUCKER of Woodville and moved to Nederland, Texas where Blackie was a pipefitter. Dorothy was a beautician, but later went back to school to become a nurse. They had two children: Albert Henry (born 31 December 1949) and a girl, Francis Marion (born 14 December 1953). They moved back to Atlanta after retiring. Blackie died in April 1989. He is buried in Woodville, TX.
8. Lee Lemuel “Johnny” Turner born 14 June 1921. Lemuel was also a family name for several generations. It was the name of Johnny’s great-grandfather GREENE. Johnny entered the Anny in 1943 where he was trained at Camp Roberts, California. He served in the USA, and was awarded the GC and American Theater Ribbons. He was discharged in 1944. Johnny married (1) Vivian Laverne “Laverne” HENDERSON on 03 June 1939, and had two children, Doyle Lee (27 August 1943) and Judy (1945).
They were divorced and he married (2) Zita Merlene MARSHALL (born 06 March 1936) of Woodville. They had three children: Boyd Ramsey (born 28 October 1953), Marshall Alan (born 14 April 1956), and Kimberly Ann (1958). Johnny worked at the Texas Plant in Port Arthur until his death 21 February 1974. Johnny is buried at Antioch Cemetery in Cass County.
9. Thirlby Marie “Coot” TURNER born 27 April 1922. The name Thirlby came from Pharibee Jane HALL Greene, Coot’s great-grandmother. Coot married (l)William Johnson Swint (born 11 December 1922) son of Marvin B. and Viola CARTER Swint from Douglassville on 06 December 1942. Johnson served in the 9th Infantry Division Arty in World War II. They had two sons, William Johnson, Jr. (born 29 June 1948) and Dale Conway (born 8 October 1951). They lived west of Douglassville on Hwy 77 where Johnson had chicken houses and worked for the Texas Forest Service until a fatal tractor accident on 18 May 1961. Coot later moved their house to Atlanta on Hwy 59. She married (2) Frank Shew from Kildare in the late ‘60’s or early ‘70s. She died 16 September 1981. Coot and Johnson are buried in Douglassville Cemetery.
10. Alvis Henry “Pod” Turner born 24 November 1924. Pod joined the Navy in 1943, trained in Corpus Christi, and served in Hawaii. He was awarded Victory, APO, and ATO Ribbons. Pod married Johnnie Lou Mc WILLIAMS (born 10 December 1922) and had one son, Alvis Randee (31 December 1948). Pod worked in the oil fields and made his home in Jennings, Louisiana, until the late 60’s when he moved back to Atlanta and worked for Atlanta Tire. Johnnie Lou was a housewife. She died 27 May 1999. She is buried in Antioch Cemetery in Cass County.
11. Mary Ambles “Molly” born 25 February 1927. The name Ambles came from her maternal great-grandmother, Charity Amness ROSE Farr. Mary was the name of her paternal grandmother, Mary Ann Elizabeth HELDT Turner. Molly was the only child who did not reach adulthood. She died O I January 1929. She is buried in Antioch Cemetery, Cass County.
12. Corine “Jit” TURNER was born 29 June 1929. Jit married a brick mason, Phill Griffin (born 30 October 1925) son of Allen H. and Chura JOHNSON Griffin of O’Farrell on 26 September 1948. Phill served in the U.S. Coast Guard during World War II. They made their home at O’Farrell until the early ‘60s when they moved to Atlanta on Hwy. 59. They had three sons: Phill Henry, Jr. (1949), Rickey Franklin (born 22 September 1953), and Eric Michael (1958). Phill died 10 July 1972 from a heat stroke. After Phill’s death, Jit went back to school and was a nurse at Atlanta Memorial Hospital for twelve years before her death on 27 September 1987. Phill and Jit are buried at the O’Farrell Cemetery.
Submitted by:
Donna Turner Ayers