Marguerite Morris Phillips Turner, 93, of Dillon, SC, passed away peacefully on July 29, 2016, at McLeod Hospice House in Florence, SC.
Born in Lexington, NC, on January 1, 1923, she was the daughter of Morris Watkins Phillips, Sr. and Marguerite Bridgers Phillips (Rowland). In 1927, she came to Dillon with her mother and brother to live with her grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. J. L. Bridgers. In her adolescence and young adulthood, she lived at the Bridgers House on the corner of Hwy. 301 and Cleveland Street. She lived in Dillon her entire life, except for a short residency in Charleston in the early 1940s during World War II. She married G. Maurice “Big Job” Turner of Greenville, SC, on July 3, 1941. He passed away in May 2002.
A 1939 graduate of Dillon High School, Marguerite was selected in her senior year to represent the state of South Carolina as a Good Citizenship Pilgrim at the Daughters of the American Revolution ceremony at Constitution Hall in Washington, DC. She proudly carried the Palmetto State Flag in the Parade of the States. Her personal account of that experience was published in The State newspaper, Sunday Edition, September 17, 1939.
Marguerite had a knack for mathematics and enjoyed her working years as a bookkeeper for family businesses — the Margo-Leen Dress Shop, Dillon Auto Parts, and Rowland Auto Parts. She was fascinated by mechanical projects, and, with her cousin, Marguerite Sapp, engineered the moving scenery at Dillon High School Band concerts, bringing to fruition the creative vision of band director and dear friend, Helen Culp.
As the mother of band members for a span of about 25 years, she contributed endless hours of effort to fundraising, uniform maintenance, and whatever else was needed at the time.
She was a member of Main Street United Methodist Church in Dillon, SC, and, with Mrs. Ruth Breeden, established the first church nursery there.
In keeping with her devotion to family, she cared for her mother, aunt, and husband in their final years.
Following heart surgery in 2003, Marguerite began cardiac rehabilitation at McLeod Hospital in Dillon, where she continued to work out until a fall on June 5, 2016.
She loved the staff and other patients and always looked forward to seeing and exchanging banter with everyone.
A rehab success story and cheerleader for the program, she was selected by the Cardiac Rehabilitation Staff as the “Poster Person” for National Heart Month in March of 2005. In addition, she was featured in an article, “The Heart of a Woman,” in McLeod Magazine in 2015.
Among her passions were working her daily crossword puzzles and following her beloved Clemson Tigers and Atlanta Braves, both of whom she cheered through good years and bad.
Marguerite always had a positive attitude and often said, ” I can’t remember a day when I haven’t had a hug or had someone say, ‘I love you.’”
Never one to worry, she shared with her family her belief that, “When you have to make a decision, do what you believe is right. After that, don’t ever worry about ‘coulda, woulda, shoulda.’”
She was blessed with a good mind, spending her final days surrounded by family and friends, saying goodbye and thanking each person for a life shared with her.
Never faltering in her faith, she thanked God for these final reunions and remarked that she was the luckiest person on earth.
In her life and in her passing, Marguerite exemplified her favorite quotation: “Have courage for the great sorrows of life and patience for the small ones; and when you have laboriously accomplished your daily tasks, go to sleep in peace. Å@God is awake.” (Victor Hugo)
She is survived by daughters Jeannine “Tudgy” Turner, Dillon, SC; Anne Turner Chapman (Ed) Clemmons, NC; Gwen Turner, Fayetteville, NC; Lila Turner McDermott (David), Dickerson, MD; grandchildren Nolan McDermott, Bivalve, NJ; Lila “Maddie” McDermott, Dickerson, MD; niece Dianne Phillips Richardson (Henry), Columbia, SC; great-niece Amanda Richardson Snodgrass (Wes) and children William and Madelyn; great-nephews Jonathan Richardson (Logan), and Ryan Richardson (JoAnn), Columbia, SC; brother-in-law Ellison Turner, Brunswick, GA; cousins Iris Brinker, North Charleston, SC; Eleanor Snead (Sam), Laurinburg, NC; Sharon Campanese, Estero, FL; and many special friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband of 60 years, and her brother Morris W. Phillips, Jr.
Services will be held on Saturday, August 6, 2016, at the Main Street United Methodist Church, Dillon, SC., with Visitation at 1:00 p.m., and Funeral Service at 2:00 p.m. Officiating will be the Reverend Bruce Sayre, assisted by the Reverend Will R. Brown. Interment will follow at Greenlawn Cemetery, Dillon, SC. Cooper Funeral Home of Dillon, SC, is assisting the family.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to: The Charles Wesley Choir – check made out to: Main Street United Methodist Church, memo: Music Ministry, mailed to: Main Street United Methodist Church, PO Box 229, Dillon, SC 29536; McLeod Hospice, PO Box 100551, Florence, SC 29502-0551; or McLeod Cardiac Rehab — check made out to: McLeod Health Foundation, memo: McLeod Dillon Cardiac Rehab Scholarship Fund, mailed to: McLeod Foundation, PO Box 100551, Florence, SC, 29502.
The family wishes to express its gratitude to the medical staff of McLeod Regional Medical Center and McLeod Hospice in Florence, SC, as well as to the many friends whose love and support have been a source of comfort during this time.
“The only way to avoid having a broken heart is never to love, and that is an unacceptable alternative.” – Marguerite Turner
