Mae Bell Turner Carter

Her Journey:
Portrait of a Good Life

To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; Ecclesiastics 3:1-2.

Mrs. Mae Bell Turner Carter was the third child born to the union of Orah Johnson Turner and Sam Turner, Sr. on August 18, 1929 in Delhi, LA.  She grew up with her seven siblings on the family farm.  She was graceful in appearance and delicate in physique; thus, Mrs. Becky Kie tagged her by the name “Beaut” (Beautiful) and it stuck throughout her life. Beaut was very partial to meat and not at all partial to heat.  Thus, her days in the field were limited. She was relegated to house duty, much to the chagrin of her other siblings.  Due to her lack of affinity for manual labor, she embraced education, graduating from the local high school, and then earning a bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education from Grambling State University (then College) in the early 1950s.  She labored in the school system for more than 30 years and touched the lives of countless students, many of whom have acknowledged the positive impact she had on their lives.

She was united in matrimony with Ezekiel Carter during the early 1950s and to that union one child was born.

Mae Bell was a devoted daughter, sister, mother, aunt and friend who always put the interests of her family first. She became the glue that held the family together.  In addition to being a caretaker for the family, she was also an advocate for the elderly and the feeble-minded.  She was a community counselor, plumber, carpenter, engineer, taxi service; and her home was often the local Bed and Breakfast. She was an excellent cook well known in the community for her Sunday dinners.  Peach cobbler, fried chicken, biscuits, and chicken and dumplings were her signature dishes.  She was an example of a life well lived.

The Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church of Delhi was Mae Bell’s church home for her entire life. She taught Sunday School and served as the church secretary for more than 30 years in the two roles.

On July 28, 2020 at 11:04 pm, Mae Bell accepted her call and quietly and peacefully discarded her garment of mortality, mounted the wings of eternity and took flight to be with the Lord. She has gone to be with those who predeceased her—her parents, Sam and Orah Turner; her sisters, Rosie Mae Turner, Annie Bell Turner, Willie Mae Turner and Laurene Turner White; her brothers, Sam Turner, Jr. and Thomas Turner, Sr., along with five nieces and six nephews.

Mae Bell leaves to cherish her memory one devoted daughter, Glenda F. Carter, one niece whom she raised, Barbara A. Turner, both of Delhi, LA and one sister, Mrs. Irene Turner Barneys of Jamaica, New York.  Others who will treasure her memory include seventeen nephews and ten nieces, numerous great, and great great nephews and nieces and her dear friends, Mrs. Joanne Smith and Ms. Ada Dunn along with a host of cousins, friends and colleagues.

Remembered until the end of time will be the name Mae Bell Turner Carter “Beaut”.  She was a Christian friend, dedicated and devoted educator, civic leader, community servant, humanitarian and a Grand Lady. May God bless her memory and keep her spirit always.  Her life emulates the words of Timothy when he said:

I have fought a good fight; I have finished my course;
I have kept the faith.
Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness,
Which the Lord, the righteous judge shall give at that day:
And not to me only,
but unto all them also that love his appearing.       II Timothy 4:7-8

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