Funeral services for Sara Elkins Turnipseed, 85, of Avon will be at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, March 16 at Avon United Methodist Church. She died on Thursday, March 7. She will be laid to rest next to John Turnipseed at the County Line Cemetery in Glen Allan. Arrangements are under the direction of Boone Funeral Home, Greenville.
Sara Elkins Turnipseed was the oldest of three children born to the union of Charles Elkins and Beatrice Harris Elkins on February 16, 1934 in West Point, MS. She committed her life to Christ and became a member of Avon United Methodist Church in 1974 where she remained a member until her death on March 7, 2019.
Sara graduated from Wilson High School in 1951 and attended Hendrix College where she received a Bachelor’s Degree in Arts in 1955. She married her college sweetheart and had two children, Debbie and Ross. After separating from her first husband, Sara attended Memphis State University where she received her teaching license. Sara started teaching in Portageville, MO. Here she met the love of her life, John Turnipseed. Sara and John had two children, John “Jack” and Stephen.
John and Sara moved to John’s hometown of Avon, MS in 1974. Sara had a long career teaching Art and English at Riverside High School while being very involved with Avon United Methodist Church. Upon her retirement in 1997, Sara began to stretch her artistic muscle. She excelled in many mediums. Her most impressive works were in chalk pastels, dress making, and stained glass. She also enjoyed traveling and bunco with her friends.
Sara was preceded in death by her parents, Charles and Beatrice Elkins, and her husband John Turnipseed. She is survived by two siblings; John Elkins (Lynne) and Anita Pearson (David); four children; Debbie Morris (Lee) of Tupelo, MS, Ross Ford (Jessica) of Elizabeth, AR, John “Jack” Turnipseed (Anita) of Greenville, MS, and Stephen Turnipseed of Greenville, MS; nine grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
There will be a visitation at Avon United Methodist Church on March 16, 2019 from 1:00 – 2:00. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Sara’s name to Avon United Methodist Church.