Obituary: REBECCA PAYNE TURNER

Rebecca Payne Turner, 85, passed away on Wednesday, April 30, 2025.

The funeral service will be conducted at 3 p.m. on Sunday, May 4, 2025 at Midway United Methodist Church with Reverend Samuel Moore officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends beginning at 2 p.m. on Sunday at the church and all other times at the residence.

Rebecca was born to Gilbert Payne, Sr. and Lee Sharpe Payne on May 12, 1939. She retired from Rockingham County Food Services as manager at Wentworth Elementary School. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She was married to her high school sweetheart for over 50 years. As a mother of three, she loved spending time with her children. She enjoyed playing with them and watching them grow. She spent hours baking in her kitchen and preparing birthday cakes and wedding cakes for her children and grandchildren. She was known for her specialty gingerbread cookies, pecan tarts and coconut chess pies during the holidays. She perfected her art of sewing, smocking and tatting by winning multiple blue-ribbon awards. She spent countless hours crocheting scarf and hat sets and knitting prayer shawls to donate to the needy. She spent years as a vendor at the Greensboro Farmer’s Market, selling her heirloom and baby clothing items.

Her love for travel led her from the east coast of Myrtle Beach through Sedona, Arizona to the west coast of California. She traveled through Europe with her granddaughter Madison and made memories in Hawaii, Alaska and in Nova Scotia. She especially enjoyed taking her children and grandchildren to Disney World.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Roy James Turner, Jr.; parents, Gilbert Watson Payne, Sr. and Elma Lenora Sharpe Payne and siblings, Irma Hilton, Mary Reid, Gilbert Payne, Jr. and Ramona Wilson.

Survivors include her three children, Laurie Turner McCollum and husband, Daniel of Madison, NC, James Michael Turner and wife, Marie of Ellerbe, NC and Geri Turner Stites and Ted of Odessa, FL; grandchildren, Danielle McCollum Colley and husband, JB of Stokesdale, NC, Tripp McCollum and Ashley of Madison, NC, Josh McCollum and Abigail of Madison, NC, Madison Turner Vincent and husband, Geoff of Charlotte, NC, Michaela Turner of Charlotte, NC, DJ Stites of Easley, SC, Skyler Stites of Fort Jackson Army Base, Columbia SC, Lynsey Stites of Odessa, FL and Kaci Stites of Odessa, FL; great-grandchildren, Wyatt Colley, Lacey McCollum & Lily McCollum.

Memorials may be made to Midway United Methodist Church, 10930 U.S. 158 West, Reidsville, NC 27320 and Ancora Compassionate Care, 2150 NC 65, Reidsville, NC 27320.

Colonial Funeral Home in Madison is serving the family.

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