Funeral services for Josie Ann “Punkin” Chisom Turner, 94, formerly of Point, will be held on Saturday, October 24, at 1:00 p.m., at Richland Baptist Church under the direction of Cozine and Tarver Funeral Home. Interment will be in Prairie Grove Cemetery
Mrs. Turner died peacefully at home in Florida on Saturday, October 10, 2026. She was born on March 12, 1932, in Hawkins to Leroy Chisom and Opal Pearl Bowman Chisom. She also celebrated July 11, 1933, because she was born by a midwife without documents. Her parents later moved to Emory, where she attended Sand Flat school. After high school, Josie gave birth to three sons. She later met the love of her life, H.T. Turner, who had four children whom she helped raise.
She was the matriarch of the family, as she had outlived her sons and her siblings. She took the gracious role as the mother of the family to her nieces, nephew and grandchildren. She kept everyone in line and kept everyone laughing. She was full of love and great memories of how everyone grew up and how she had a “left hand” in it. She fed many from Emory, Richland, Lone Oak, and Greenville from her kitchen table.
Mrs. Turner accepted Jesus Christ and was a faithful servant to the Richland Baptist Church. She served on the usher board, sowed her seeds into the church, and was the mother of the church under the Pastor R.L. and Marilyn Stephney. She was well loved by the community and her church family, and she always made sure to keep God first.
In January 2025, after her health started to fail, she moved to Orlando, Florida, where she received loving care from her granddaughters and their families.
Mrs. Turner is survived by stepdaughters, Linda Turner Hayes of California and Maybeth Turner of Emory; grandchildren, Angela Thomas of Birch Creek, Tosha Thomas (Lamont) and Tiffany Gilbert (William) of Orlando, Florida, Kimberly Chisom, Marlon Chisom, Germanie Chisom (Bree) and Salena Givens of Sulphur Springs, R. J. Chisom of Dallas, Chris Chisom of Marshal, Markell Chisom of Emory, and Derrick Givens of Greenville; great-grandchildren, Jada Goodson, Tyrese Taylor, Tyler Holt, Alexis Holt, Zamaria Chisom, Rickayla Ross, Rikia Ross, Lily Chisom, J.J. Chisom, Quincy Chisom, Damian Chisom, Kendyn Chisom, Jaclyn Chisom and Irelyn Chisom; nieces, Shirley Humphrey of Oklahoma, Charlotte Grant (Greg) of Greenville, Tamika Henry (Anthony) of Arkansas, Gee Gee Williams of Dallas, and Rosemary Reed and Iris Reed of Sulphur Springs; and nephew, Gary Chisom of Dallas.
She was preceded in death by her husband; parents; siblings, Sophello Chisom, Cleophus Chisom, Viola Chisom, Howard Chisom and twin, and Anna Pearl Bowman Williams; sons, Willie, James, and Robert Chisom; stepchildren, Tina Turner and Mark Turner; and a great-grandson.
Visitation will be held 12:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. on Friday, October 23, at Cozine and Tarver Funeral Home in Greenville.