Helen Irene Turner

TURNERDURHAM Mrs. Helen Irene Turner, 100, of 1600 Southview Road, died on Tuesday, January 4, 2011.Helen was born in Mecklenburg County, Virginia on July 8, 1910. She was the daughter of the late Joseph and Mittie Trevathan Turner. At 21 years of age she came to Durham to work in the hosiery mill. Helen bought a farm in 1948 and farmed the rest of her life. Helen opened her home to family members when they needed a place to stay and a stable family environment to give them a chance to change the path of their life. Helen with the help from her sister, Mildred, became a powerful team bringing the gospel to their family and friends in Durham. They sang together, and in a quartet. They picked up family and friends to carry them to prayer meetings, or church. They found a building to rent at the corner of East Main and Hyde Park that later became The House of Prayer. Helen was a strong supporter of missions. Helen married Rev. Kenneth H. Turner in December 1951. Helen was the General Secretary and Treasurer of the House of Prayer organization and the local church until the organization de-organized. She continued to be the local church’s Secretary and Treasurer until her 90’s when her health dictated she get help. Her last wish to serve God was to leave a legacy that supported foreign missions. She is survived by her daughter, Kathleen Thomasson and husband, Danny of Durham; two sisters, Nellie Higgs and Ruby Capps both of Durham and grandchildren, April Crist (Jeff) of Raleigh and Kathryn Irene Hayes (Shane) of Goldsboro.Funeral service will be held on Saturday at 2 p.m. at Hudson Funeral Chapel, officiated by Rev. Wayne Huntley and Rev. Bryan Ballestero. Private burial will be in Woodlawn Memorial Park. The family will receive friends on Saturday from 12 to 2 p.m., before the service at Hudson Funeral Home.