Matthew Turner

Mr. Matthew Turner, age 85 of Brooklet, Ga., passed on Sunday morning June 17th after an extended illness at his residence under the compassionate care of Ogeechee Area Hospice. He was a veteran of the United States Army serving in the Koren War. He retired from the Pentagon United States Department of Defense in Arlington, VA., as a bodyguard.

Mr. Matthew "Matt" Turner was born on September 23, 1932 in Bulloch County to the late John Irvin Turner and Beulah Monroe Turner. He was preceded in death by his wife, Nellie, four brothers: John, Ray, Billy, Fred and one sister, Gordie Mae.

Mr. Turner joined the United States Army and saw one year of combat in Korea. He served in the military for five years and later began his federal career in Washington, D.C., in 1966. He served as a ward attendant at Walter Reed Army Medical Center during the Vietnam War.

Mr. Turner became a chauffeur in the motor pool at the Pentagon in 1968. He drove for the Secretary of the Air Force, Former Ambassador Frank G. Wisner, several assistant secretaries within the Air Force and an Army Secretariat. Mr. Turner joined the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy and became the chauffeur to the Secretary of Defense. He was awarded the Secretary of Defense Medal for Meritorius Civil Service in 1987. Mr. Turner later became a trained personal security specialist specializing in anti-terrorist driving techniques and a pistol expert. He dedicated over thirty years of service to his country.

He is survived by a loving daughter Mrs. Tujuana Shaw-(Basil, Sr.) Jallah of Savannah, Ga.; six loving grandchildren James, Taneasa, Torie, Justin, Famata, and Basil, Jr., all of Savannah, Ga.; ten loving great-grandchildren all of Savannah, Ga.; a loving sister Mrs. Oma (Willie) Roberson of Brooklet, Ga.; two loving sister-in-laws Mary Turner of Miami, Fl., and Mildred Turner of Savannah, Ga.; a special friend Geraldine McBride of Brooklet, Ga.; and a host of other relatives and friends.

Family and friends visitations will be Friday June 22, 2018 from 6-7pm in the chapel of Craig R. Tremble Funeral Home, Statesboro Chapel.

Home Going Celebration for Mr. Matthew Turner will be Saturday June 23, 2018 at 11am in the chapel of Craig R. Tremble Funeral Home, 238 West Main Street, Statesboro, Ga., with the Rev. Craig R. Tremble, Officiating. Interment will be held in the Bulloch Memorial Gardens, Hwy. 80 East, Statesboro, Ga., with full military honors.

Craig R. Tremble Funeral Home, Statesboro Chapel are in charge of arrangements.

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