Mildred Louise French Turner, 75, was born on Feb. 27, 1937. Turner was the fourth child born to the late Mr. Willie T. French and Mrs. Rosie E. French in Limestone County, Ala. She was called home to eternal rest by her Heavenly Father on Friday, July 20, 2012, at Athens-Limestone Hospital. She was preceded in death by three siblings.

The funeral for Mrs. Turner will be at noon Wednesday at Sweet Home Missionary Baptist Church. Burial will follow at Tatch-Mann Cemetery. Visitation will be from noon to 6 p.m. today at the church.

She was a graduate of Trinity High School in 1953; received a B.S. and masters degree in English from Alabama A&M University in Normal. She was also a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority.

Mildred, affectionately known as “Sis” to so many people, devoted 36 years of her life teaching and positively impacting hundreds, if not thousands, of young people. During her career as an educator at Miller Public School and Athens High School, Mildred taught in excellence and expected academic excellence from all of her students. Mrs. Turner was also known as a strict disciplinarian who insisted her students were well mannered and always exemplified character, integrity, and “home training.” She would not hesitate to reach out to students’ parents to ensure each child reached his or her potential.

Mildred not only loved her children, but also her Lord. She accepted Christ as her Savior at an early age and united with the Sweet Home Missionary Baptist Church. She served her Lord and her church faithfully in various capacities. She was the church secretary and the Sunday School secretary for more than 40 years. She served on the Mother’s Board at Sweet Home for more than 36 years. She also shared her unique gift of teaching the adult Sunday School class over the years. Mildred remained faithful to the Sweet Home family in her presence, prayers, and participation until her health would no longer allow her to do so.

With the exception of God the Father, Mildred’s deepest love and passion was for her family. She was united in marriage to Mr. Leo Turner Jr. in March of 1958. She remained a faithful and loyal companion for 54 years. To this union two sons were born, Reginald and Darius.

For now, to be separated from Mildred is very difficult for all those who appreciate her life and legacy. However, we are blessed to have precious memories of her. Those remaining who cherish her most are: her loving and devoted husband and caregiver, Leo; her sons, Reginald and his wife Edna, and Darius; her mother, Rosie E. French, and her sister, Deloris and her husband George Green; her brothers, Clyde E. French of Los Angeles, Calif., and Milton W. French and his wife Carolyn of Sacramento, Calif.; her grandchildren, Justin Turner of Atlanta, Ga., Briannah Turner of Huntsville, Jayla Richardson of Birmingham; one great-grandson, Austin Blackmon of Birmingham; and a brother-in-law, Shelby Turner and his wife Roshella, of Louisville, Ky. Mildred has numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, former colleagues, and students who will sorely miss her.

From her husband who called her “Ms. Flossie,” sons who called her “Mama,” her mother and other relatives who called her “Sis,” siblings who called her “Merk,” grandchildren who called her “Granny,” and great nephews who called her “Chocolate Doll and Candy,” we bid our precious Mildred…“Good night, good night! Parting is such sweet sorrow, That I shall say, Good night till it be morrow.”