Mrs. Betty Jean Turbiville

BETTY JEAN BOULER TURBIVILLE was born on April 16, 1928, in Atmore, Alabama to the late Walter Lee Bouler and Bertha Ann Smith Bouler.  She fell asleep in death on February 16, 2014 after a short illness.  

She was  preceded in death by her husband, Moody Turbiville; two brothers:  W.T. Bouler and Robert E. Bouler and one sister,  Willa Carroll See.  

She is survived by:  a daughter, Linda Warren and husband, Jerry, of Fayetteville, NC, a son, Stephen F.  Turbiville and wife, Carolyn, of Fayetteville, NC;  and a daughter, Joni Poole and husband, Stuart , of White Salmon, WA;  Surviving also are her grandchildren:  Brett Turbiville and wife, Tamela, of Foley, Alabama; Amy Chan, and husband, Ken, of Efland, NC; Jerry Warren and wife, Selina, of Raleigh, NC; Sterling Poole and wife, Sophia of Topeka, Kansas; Dakotah Poole and wife, Felicia, of White Salmon, WA; Sierra Vranch and husband, Richard, of Korhago, Ivory Coast, Africa; Dyamond, Silver, Laredo and Durango Poole, of White Salmon, WA; Great grandchildren:  Chandler, Sereena and Chloe Turbiville; Marcella and Magnolia Poole; Jade, Kobe and Kaya Chan; and Fernanda Warren and great, great grandchild:  Aiden James Chan.  She is also survived by her brother, Gary C. Bouler and wife, Shirley, of Atmore, AL; and a host of nieces and nephews.  

Betty was born to a large, loving family in a small town in south Alabama.  Her much older siblings doted on her, treating her as their precious doll.  Her family moved around south Alabama with her father’s job, therefore, many times she was the “new girl” in town.  Because of that  she forced herself to be outgoing and to meet people with ease.  This quality would serve her well in the years to come.  She graduated from Jackson High School in 1946 as Salutatorian of her Senior Class and was active in many school programs.   In 1946 she married her handsome sweetheart, Moody Turbiville, as he returned from World War II.  The two spent their honeymoon on a train traveling cross country to Colorado Springs, Colorado where they lived for a year.  When she was expecting their first child she returned to Alabama while Moody completed his duty with the mountain troops.  The Army eventually brought them to Fayetteville, NC.  From there this shy, small town girl was able to travel with her family to England and Germany but it would be in Fayetteville that they would raise their three children and come to have many life long friends.  

Betty was a true southern lady with such a sweet. pleasant voice, a nephew said of her, that “her voice could soothe any savage beast.”  She was a “people person” and never met a stranger.  On January 15, 1958 she was baptized as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses and for the next 56 years she worked tirelessly as a volunteer teaching others about the Bible.  This was truly her life’s work, even though she was a mother and homemaker,  she was always interested in other people and spent countless hours assisting others.  She began her career as a full time pioneer in 1986 at the age of 58 and was able to attend two Pioneer Schools.   She was an avid exercise enthusiast, dancer, music lover, reader and gardener.   Many people around town can remember exchanging cuttings from her garden.  Until very recent years she could be seen in her neighborhood taking her daily one hour walk.  She loved flowers and always was a wealth of information about growing beautiful plants.  Her yard was always a delight to see in the spring and summer months.  She dearly loved her family and friends but had a special pride and joy in her grandchildren and great grandchildren.  She would travel across the country each year to be able to see some of her grandchildren.

A truly special person with so many special gifts, she sprinkled those gifts to her family, friends and anyone who needed a listening ear.  A little sunshine followed wherever she went and her hope was that those gifts would grow in others and spread as well.  


Visitation:  Saturday, February 22, 2014, at 1:00 p.m, Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses, Cumberland Road

Memorial Service: Saturday, February 22, 2014, at 2:00 p.m., Kingdom Hall  of Jehovah’s Witnesses, Cumberland Road

The family would like to express sincere appreciation to the ladies who helped care for her at home for the past nine months, and to the staff of Cumberland Nursing Center where she resided for three and a half years prior to that.  You will always have a special place in our hearts because of the kind assistance and care you gave to our mother and grandmother.  Thanks also to the many kind friends whose show of support and assistance was so greatly appreciated.  

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