Obituaries

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: And I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever. (Psalm 23:6)

The earthly realm blushed beneath the applause of the heavenly host when Beverly Jean Arnold-Turner was divinely dispatched into this world to compliment the fulfillment of the Glory of God and the good of mankind.

Fearfully and wonderfully made, the purpose of God for her earthly tenure would encompass an assignment comprising an extraordinary course bearing the fruit of a servant, a steward, and a sage.

Her earthly course commenced on May 5, 1960, in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. She was the first of five gifts from the Lord assigned to the parental stewardship of Virginia Karl Arnold.

She was reared in the home of her grandparents, John and Odell Arnold, and in the shadow of her aunt, Genova Jean Darrough “Aunt Dutchie”, whom she dearly loved and often spoke of. This umbrella of Christian love and guidance provided by her grandparents and aunt afforded Beverly a happy and productive childhood.

Beverly secured her eternal destiny in the tender years of her youth by accepting Jesus Christ as her personal Savior and was baptized at the Gospel Temple Missionary Baptist Church in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, under the leadership of Pastor P.L. Barnes. She worked alongside her beloved grandmother in the church nursery and on the hospitality committee.

Beverly was educated in the public school system in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, graduating in 1978 from Watson Chapel High School. She continued her formal education at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB), graduating in 1983 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration and Finance Management. While attending UAPB, she became a member of Gamma Sigma Sigma Sorority.

She began her professional career as an intern at the National Center for Toxicological Research (NCTR) at the Pine Bluff Arsenal. Furthering her career, she began working as a salesperson for Farmers Insurance. While briefly living in North Carolina she was employed by The Boy Scouts of America.

When she joined the staff of Long John Silver as an Assistant Manager, it was there Beverly found fulfillment in serving God by serving others. The fruit of her hard work and dedication earned her a promotion to the position of Manager of the Long John Silver location on South Main Street in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. Beverly rendered over ten years of honorable service to Long John Silver until she relocated in January 2009.

On January 3, 2009, a new era of her life began when she married Jerome M. Turner and moved to Marvell, Arkansas. There, she became a devoted member of the Marvell community, serving in various capacities. She was first employed by AmeriCorps VISTA with her worksite being at the Boys, Girls, Adults, Community Development Center (BGACDC). When her tenure ended with AmeriCorps, she was employed by BGACDC as Financial Manager. As Financial Manager, Beverly was entrusted to manage millions of non-profit dollars. Her record of always receiving excellent audits is a testament to her character as a faithful and honorable steward.

Her love for the Lord was the primary source of her intentional love invested in the lives of others. Beverly served the community by organizing events such as breast cancer awareness and screenings, banquets for Bethlehem District, and activities for BGACDC and the Phillips County Chapter of the UAPB National Alumni Association. She enjoyed working with Freedom School, the Summer Youth Program, the May Day Parade, and other community activities.

Beverly was very supportive of her husband’s political career. She organized events, helped develop literature, and planned strategies that led to a successful campaign.

Some of the things she loved but many never knew about her, were eating good food and watching sports. On Friday nights she would watch television to see if her alma mater Watson Chapel Wildcats had won. On Saturday night she would watch to see if UAPB Golden Lions and Arkansas Razorbacks had won. On Sundays, she wanted to know what time the Dallas Cowboys were playing and if they had won. She would call a few people she knew to brag and tease them whenever her teams won.

Beverly was a member of the New Mt. Everett Missionary Baptist Church in “Hick” Marvell, Arkansas. She served as the Assistant Church Clerk and Sunday School secretary. She was often instrumental in helping to organize and plan church events.

A servant by calling and a pastor’s wife by assignment, Beverly was a faithful member and worker in God’s vineyard. She was always willing to help and support her husband in whatever capacity she was needed. She would often accompany him to local, state, and national church events.

A woman with a bubbly spirit, a gorgeous smile, and a generous heart, Beverly was a devoted wife, loving mother and grandmother, caring sister, and faithful friend. On the eve of October 13, 2023, she would take her seat in one of her favorite chairs. Looking into eternity, seeing the extended arms of her Lord and hearing him lovingly calling her from labor to reward, she would enter into His eternal Presence to receive her crown of righteousness for her faithful service.

“Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. ‘For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.’ ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.’ (Matthew 25:34-36, 40)

Among those preceding her deliverance from this life are: her mother, Virginia Karl Arnold; her grandparents, John and Odell (Moore) Arnold; and two brothers, Perry Birdlow and Edell Stocker, Jr.

She leaves to cherish her memory: her husband, Jerome M. Turner; one son, John (Brittany) Turner of Nashville, Tennessee; two sisters, Ruby (Thomas) Young of Rison, Arkansas, and Shelby Stocker of Romulus, Michigan; nieces whom she loved as her daughters, Lateicia (Carlos) Harrison of Pine Bluff, Arkansas, and Amber (B’kari) Cobbs of Enid, Oklahoma; three grandchildren Ariel (Stocker) Harrison, Josiah Harrison, and Tyler Harrison; one step-daughter, Shawna (Dwight) Turner-Dixon of Killeen, Texas; two sisters-in-law Violet Tate of Helena, Arkansas, and Alice Powell of Detroit Michigan; and a host of beloved relatives and friends.