Rosa Lea Halford Turner was born June 17, 1933, in Reyno, Arkansas, and left this life to be with her Heavenly Father on Dec. 24, 2020, at age 87.
After marrying her high school sweetheart, James Edward “Jim” Turner on Feb. 24, 1951, they moved to St. Louis, Missouri. Jim was later transferred to Batesville, Arkansas with Emerson Electric in Aug. 1961.
Rosa was a faithful member of the Harrison Street Church of Christ. She was well known for her artistic talent in painting ceramics and intricate crocheting designs. One of her fondest memories was owning her own florist, Turner’s Flower Shop. Eventually, she sold her florist to be a caregiver to her elderly parents. Rosa had a heart for others and enjoyed cooking for her family and friends. Together, some of Rosa and Jim’s most treasured times were of spending Christmas with their family. They also loved to reminisce of family vacations spent in St. Petersburg, Florida, with two daughters. They were later blessed with five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Daly and Willie Poteet Halford; her husband, James “Jim” Turner, and two grandsons, Andy Payne and Billy Payne; three brothers, Homer, Lehman, and John Halford; five sisters, Janice Renie, Hassell Kirk, Jean Hefferin, Willisteen Rariden, and Mary Jo Halford.
Rosa is survived by daughters Debbie Payne and her husband, Phil of Marietta, Georgia, and Denise Burnett and her husband James of Batesville, Arkansas; three grandchildren, Jennifer Burnett Branum (Bart) of Hornersville, MO; Dr. John Allen Burnett (Andrea) of Jonesboro, Arkansas; Katie Payne of Atlanta, Georgia; five great-grandchildren, Natalie Branum, Payne Worley, Addison Burnett, Claire Branum, and Posey Worley, also surviving is many nieces and nephews and other relatives and friends.
The family would like to thank the staff of Aspen Hall at Wood-Lawn Heights. They have taken excellent care of her for the past four years. We would also like to express our gratitude to the staff working in the Covid Observation Unit at the White River Medical Center. The nursing staff did an outstanding job administering compassionate care to the mother while we were unable to be by her side.
A funeral service will be held at the Roller-Crouch Funeral Home Chapel on Dec. 30, 2020, at 2:00 p.m. in Batesville, Arkansas.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be to the Paragould Children’s Home 5515 Walcott Rd, Paragould, AR 72450, the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation P.O. Box 91891 Washington DC 20090-1891, or St. Jude’s Hospital 501 St. Jude Place Memphis, TN 38105 in memory of Rosa.
We are complying with the Arkansas Department of Health guidelines and limiting indoor funeral and visitation attendance to 50 people at one time. All attendees must provide and wear their own masks before entering and social distancing will be observed.
