Retired BMA Pastor Dies

      Ray Duane Turner, 87, of Hughes Springs, Texas passed away on Feb. 22. He was saved July 1947, and surrendered to the ministry during the summer of 1954. In 1956, he began his ministry, which spanned 60 years. He served as a missionary in Denver, Colo. for BMAA Interstate Missions and pastored several churches in Texas. His last pastorate at Ebenezer Friendship Baptist Church in Pittsburg, Texas. He earned a Master of Religious Education from the BMA Theological Seminary in 1983.

      Survivors include: four children, Candy (Ricky) Thompson, Cherri Eichel, John (Angela) Turner and Theron (Cindi) Turner; siblings; Ronald (Clel) Turner, Anne (James) Walker and Lissa (Eddie) Twitty; 13 grandchildren; 26 great-grandchildren; and 5 great-great grandchildren.

      Funeral Services were held at 10 a.m. Feb. 26 at Ebenezer Friendship Baptist Church in Pittsburg with Charles Johnson and Keith Graham officiating. Interment followed at Ebenezer Cemetery, under the direction of by Erman Smith Funeral Home (ermansmithfuneralhome.com).

      In lieu of flowers, memorials in his name may be made to the Texas Baptist Home for Children (tbhc.org) and/or Jacksonville College (jacksonvillecollege.edu).