The Reverend Norris B. Turner of 1307 Rock House Road, Greenwood, South Carolina made his transition on December 27, 2017 at his home.

He was born March 19, 1936 in Troy, South Carolina to the late Johnnie Turner and Helen Childs Turner. He was the oldest of six children.

At an early age, he joined the Troy Bethel AME Church where he served for several years.  Rev. Turner attended public school in Troy,  and was a graduate of Brewer High School class of 1955. He was a 1988 graduate of Morris College Extension School of Theology in Laurens, South Carolina.

During the spring of 1962, Rev. Turner joined the Mount Moriah Baptist Church in Greenwood, South Carolina. While there, he served on the Trustee Board and president of the Mount Moriah Gospel Chorus.  He was a internationally known recording artist and composer.

Rev. Turner was called into the ministry during the fall of 1981.  He was elected pastor of the Antioch Baptist Church in September 1982. He served as pastor there for six years.  He was called to pastor Mount Herman Baptist Church in December 1994.  In June of 1997, he was called to pastor Gethsemane Baptist Church in Blair, South Carolina. He led the congregation for 20 wonderful years before retiring as Senior Pastor in December of 2016.  He was a member of the NAACP, National Baptist Convention, and was South Carolina Baptist Convention State Choir leader. He was the last surviving member of the original Golden Stars Quartet.

Rev. Norris Turner's life will forever be cherished through the lives he touched. He leaves behind to cherish his memory, his wife Ella M. Watson Turner, his two daughters, Cassandra Turner Nelson and Sharon Turner of Alpharetta Georgia, one foster son Calvin L Goodwin of Rock Hill South Carolina and three granddaughters, BriElla, Kimberly, and Kianna Nelson all of Alpharetta Georgia. One sister, Joyce Haywood of Los Angeles California. One brother, James Robert  (Carolyn) Turner  of Los Angeles California.  Three sisters-in-law Thelma Bentley of Columbia South Carolina; Adell Watson and Betty Watson of Rialto,California. Two brothers-in-law, Robert (Dora) Watson of Greenwood, South Carolina and Anthony J. Watson of Columbia, South Carolina and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.  He was preceded in death by his sister, Arsena Turner  and brothers, Johnnie Turner Jr. and Joseph Haywood.

A Celebration of life for the Reverend Norris B. Turner will be held at noon on Saturday, December 30, 2017 at Gethsemane Baptist Church, 443 Road 99 in Blair, South Carolina 29015 with Pastor Eric Bell and Elder Derrick Hollins assisting. The body will be placed in the church at 11 a.m.

The Life and Legacy of Reverend Turner will be held at 1 p.m. on Sunday, December 31, 2017 at The Little River Multicultural Complex, 415 Riley Road, North Hodges, South Carolina 29653 with Reverend Ronnie Williams officiating, Reverend Michael Butler, presiding. Assisting will be Revs. Raymond Adams,  Al Green, Roy Norman, Arthur Kemp, Keith Cromer and Eric Bell.  The body will be placed in the Complex at noon.  Burial will be in the Mount Moriah Baptist Church Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be Robert Watson, Jr., Justin Watson, Shawn Copeland, Russell H. Booker, Randy Nelson and Aaron Light. Flower Bearers will be nieces and great nieces. Honorary Escorts will be Ministers, Honorary Flower Bearers will be Minister's Wives.

The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Friday, December 29, 2017 from 6 to 7 p.m.

The family is at the home.