Dannette Irvin Turner

Posted on April 26, 2019

Dannette Irvin Turner, 59, daughter of the late Helen McDowell Irvin and the late Roosevelt Henderson, passed away peacefully on April 15, 2019, at Tallahasse Memorial Hospital.

Besides both parents, she had three siblings who preceded her in death: Addie Ree Irvin, Annie Mae Cobb, Henry B. Irvin.

Dannette was born December 9, 1959, in Perry and was the 11th child and baby girl of a family of 12 children. She attended school in the Taylor County school system, starting out at Jerkins. After graduating from Taylor County High School, Dannette attended Florida A&M University (FAMU) in Tallahassee and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing in 1983.

She started her professional career as a Registered Nurse at Doctors Memorial Hospital in her hometown of Perry. She celebrated many successful career moves and while working full time, obtained a Master of Science degree in Nursing at FAMU and eventually became Florida State Board certified as an Advanced Nurse Practitioner in 2013. At the time of her death, she was employed by Florida Health Department and HUMANA serving Perry and other communities in North Florida. 

Dannette was a member of New Brooklyn Missionary Baptist Church where she worshiped and served in various capacities over the years. Most recently she was an active member of the Health Ministry, and along with daughter Danielle, established the church’s first 4-H Club for youth. She wasn’t afraid to get her hands dirty, as you could find her working in the NBMBC Faithful Family garden.

Her love and devotion as a mother and friend to Danielle is unrivaled. They shared everything together including love of family, family gatherings, travel, career paths and serving.

She was a healer of the sick and a comforter of the troubled. Dannette supported anyone in need who were blessed enough to cross her path. Like the Good Lord would have, she expressed her love through action and service, even if it sometimes included stern voice.

Dannette’s spirit of generosity knew no boundaries and touched people of every race, creed, color and class. Her light burned brightly in all directions and left no one out in the dark. She had the rare ability of making everyone feel like her favorite and that she loved them and accepted them as they were, not as she needed them to be. 

You could not count the people who were affected by her because the sheer number would be staggering. Surely, you will not meet another Dannette Turner in this lifetime, as we were all blessed to have been loved by her in this one.

Dannette leaves to mourn, her daughter, Iris Danielle Turner, her companion, Andre Tim and her little love, Roxie; three sisters, Johnnie Ruth Gaines of Spring Lake N.C., Annie Florence Carter of Cross City, Pamela Henry of West Chester, Ohio; seven brothers: Moncrief (Mamie) Ervin Jr and Willie Keith Irvin of Perry, Don (Verdell) Henderson and Morris (Doris) Irvin of Orlando, Girardeau Henderson, Herman Irvin and Douglas Irvin of Ocala; three aunts: Jimmie Mae Jones of Albany, Ga., Nita (Billy) Harrison of Leesburg, Ga., and Mary Lee Williams of Perry. She also leaves a multitude of special nieces, nephews, cousins, friends who were as close as relatives and a beloved community of colleagues and friends.

A Celebration of Life will be held today (Friday) at Loughridge Park from 5-9 p.m.

Memorial Services will be held Saturday, April 27, at Antioch Missionary Baptist Church.

Evans-Walker Funeral Home is in charge of all arrangements.