Joanne Greene Turner

Joanne Elizabeth (Greene) Turner of Travelers Rest, S.C. passed away at Prisma Greer Hospital on Christmas Day (December 25, 2025) after battling leukemia/CLL for nearly a decade. She was 86 years old. She is survived by her son Charles (Chuck) F. Turner Jr. (Angela) and 2 granddaughters, Ashley J. Turner of Greenville, S.C. and Meredith Turner Cooper (Corey) of Taylors, S.C. The family will celebrate her life with a graveside service on Monday, December 29, 2025 at Reedy River Baptist Church at 11:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the North Greenville Food Crisis Ministry in Travelers Rest, S.C. and/or the American Cancer Society. Joanne (“Jody” to her family) was born in Greenville, S.C. on March 13, 1939 to Walter Edward and Ethel Stewart Greene of Travelers Rest, S.C. She was their youngest child and sister to her older brother Jack Greene. She was born and raised a farm girl on Greendale Farms which operated a dairy farm and cotton gin. It was there that she developed her lifelong fear of chickens assisted by her older brother chasing and teasing her with them. She attended Travelers Rest schools from grade school through high school achieving academic success. She was also a good athlete, playing point guard on the state championship girl’s team. She also loved social life and enjoyed having a good time, laughing, dancing and telling jokes. She loved playing piano and singing in various church choirs. Whether on or off key, she enjoyed her role immensely, as she did in every aspect of her life. She attended Furman University and it was there she met her life long love and future husband Buddy Turner after picking him and a fraternity brother up for a ride around the new Furman Lake. After graduating a year early from Furman, she taught history at Travelers Rest High School before following her husband to Germany where he was stationed in the U.S. Army. When they returned to the States, she continued to teach school until she had her son. Despite staying home and raising her son, she assisted her husband in his business endeavors and always found time to volunteer. Over the years, she was active in the S.C. Jaycees Auxiliary, the Travelers Rest Junior Women’s Club, North Greenville Hospital volunteers, and various PTA groups. Later in her life, the North Greenville Food Crisis Ministry became her mission and focus acting a Board Member/Chair almost to the day she died, She was a member of Reedy River Baptist Church her entire life and attended Berea First Baptist Church for a time Joanne enjoyed playing bridge and was a member of Green Valley Country Club for almost 50 years where she played tennis at a 3.5 level even into her late fifties, She was also a very good golfer and bowler despite not playing either very much. Like her husband, she was devoted to exercise; biking and running thousands miles around Furman’s campus and on various trips. She also loved Furman athletics. As warm and vibrant as the unusual Christmas Day weather when she passed, Joanne was the consummate host and loved throwing parties and cooking for everyone. Her pound cake, country style steak, fried chicken, fried okra and cobblers (peach and blackberry) will be missed. She liked having a beer with pizza (usually on Saturday night), and she always loved peanuts, a glass of white wine, and beach music/shagging. While having only one son, she fed and raised a number of her son’s friends and teammates whom she treated like her own. Joanne was a steel magnolia: classy, kind, loving, giving, and strong of mind, faith, and spirit. She was the friend you could count on for a good laugh or a shoulder to cry on. She was one of a kind; battling breast cancer in her fifties, various skin cancers, and leukemia/CLL later in her life, all the while caring for her aging husband and selflessly devoting herself to her family. She ran her race and a couple extra miles for good measure. Her family takes solace that she is now with her Savior and reunited with her husband in heaven after a short respite, as well as joining her life long best friend Ann (Styles) Burgess. Undoubtedly, they are laughing and throwing a party for everyone. The family would like to thank Dr. Coimann, Nurses Ben and Sean, and all of the Mom’s care team at Prisma Greer for their care and comfort for her over the last week, Dr. Fanning, Dr. Gardziola, and the Prisma Cancer Institute staff, as well as her caregivers Melissa, April and Darrell. Well done, Mom, well done. We love you.

Joanne Greene Turner

March 13, 1939 - December 25, 2025