Cover photo for Gladys Marie Cooper Turner's Obituary
Gladys Marie Cooper Turner Profile Photo
1925 Gladys 2022

Gladys Marie Cooper Turner

April 15, 1925 — February 16, 2022

GLADYS MARIE COOPER TURNER was born in Clanton, Alabama, April 15, 1925, to the late Benny Cooper and Emma Vinson Cooper. Gladys was the third child of five daughters. She was raised in Lexington, Kentucky, by her paternal grandmother, Georgia Easter Ester Cooper. Gladys was baptized and accepted Christ at an early age at The Pleasant Green Baptist Church. Gladys completed high school in Lexington, Kentucky. She continued her education through a Job Corp training program which relocated her to Dayton, Ohio. Gladys married Robert Alexander Turner, Sr., and from this union, they had three sons, Robert, Jr., David, and James. Mr. Turner remarried and the blended children are Colleen, Jerome, Roberta and Clemmie Turner. She began her employment with Dr. McFall. She later earned an Associate’s Degree as a Licensed Practical Nurse. She was one of the first African American graduates of The License Practical Nursing School. She was later employed at Miami Valley Hospital, Emergency Room Department. Gladys married David Lee Tubbs and from this union, they had two daughters, Anita and Sharon Kay. Mr. Tubbs remarried and the blended children are Peggy Kennedy, Vanessa and Pamela Tubbs. Gladys relocated her family to Columbus, Ohio, in 1966; however, her eldest son remained in Dayton, Ohio, to begin his working career. She became a member of The Church of Christ of the Apostolic Faith. She was a faithful member of the church for 50 plus years and attended Sunday School every Sunday and was a member of the Scholarship Committee. She loved the Lord and read her Bible daily; she owned a dozen Bibles; many well-worn. She participated in a weekly Bible study at Faith Ministries Church under the leadership of Dr. C. Dexter Wise. She was employed at Children’s Hospital, Pediatric Department, and worked private duty nursing assignments. She eventually retired from Children’s Hospital and continued working private assignments. Gladys married Carlson Henderson Waugh. The blended children are Carla, Karen, Edith, and Eugene Waugh. Gladys volunteered at The Linton Garden Recreation Center as the receptionist and participated in their chorus group. She helped organize The Woodland/Holt Civic Association. One of their first task was to obtain street lighting. Their second task was to obtain Central Ohio Transit Authority bus lines so that the community could enjoy the benefits of mass transit. The Woodland/Holt’s National Nite Out event was one of the best in the city and enjoyed by the community. She also was a member of the North Central Area Commission that worked with the Columbus City Council. During her tenure on that Commission, she worked to resolve the flooding issues in the area. She could be found at any time beautifying her neighborhood with her grandchildren and the community children. Gladys was a fast walker and would sometimes walk to the neighborhood grocery rather than drive. Gladys loved to help her community and bring family and friends together. She loved working in her flower and vegetable gardens, needle point, fishing, sitting on her patio, and attending the Clippers baseball games with her grandchildren. She attended the Martin Janis Center where she handcrafted ceramic pieces. She was an avid OSU football and basketball sports enthusiast; she dressed up in Buckeye gear and flew her OSU flag at her home. She was the family historian which she took great pride in documenting the history of her family tree as well as helping to organize the family reunions. She was devoted to assisting several family members that migrated to Ohio. She assisted with raising her grandchildren. In addition to raising her five children, she had parental guardianship for a number of years of her three great nieces, Marsha, Cherri and Sabrina Brown, and great nephew Aaron Brown. She also had parental guardianship of her great nephew, Edward Brickerson, for three years. She also assisted with raising another family member for a short period of time, Robin Hughes. Gladys provided assistance and support to her mother, Moma Emma, throughout her lifetime until her passing at the age of 92. Gladys was a caregiver for her youngest sister, Marybell Studamire, who suffered a stroke. At the time, Marybell was the parental guardian of Tamiko Brown. They relocated from Clanton, Alabama, to Columbus, Ohio, and remained under Gladys’ care for six years. At the onset of her dementia at 90 years old, Gladys made her decision, along with her children, to turn in her driver’s license, sell her home, and relocate to a nursing facility. She always liked to oversee all the decisions being made on her behalf. Gladys surprised her children and family when she made her peaceful transition at Arlington Court Nursing Facility as she was not distressed in any way. She went into the arms of the Lord Jesus Christ. Gladys closed her eyes and peacefully left this earth because God had called her to a big celebration and a new home in Heaven! Praise the Lord! Gladys was the matriarch of the family and longest living of her siblings, Rosa Ester Everette, Brunetta Robinson, Bernice Wilson, and Marybell Studamire. Also preceded in death by her first grandchild Robert A. Turner, III. She is survived by her sons, Robert Turner, Jr., of Dayton, Ohio, David Turner, Sr., and James (Cheryl) Turner, of Columbus, Ohio; her daughters, Anita (Ernest) Scott of Orient, Ohio, and Sharon Kay Tubbs of Gahanna, Ohio; her grandchildren, Christopher (Diona) Turner of Dayton, Ohio, Yemane (Latrice) Turner of Acworth, Georgia, Danielle Turner of Columbus, Ohio, David Turner, Jr., of Windsor Mill, Maryland, Ebony Turner of Gahanna, Ohio, Camille Turner of Columbus, Ohio, and Narcissa (Ronni) Murphy of Fairfield, Ohio; nine great grandchildren; special nieces, Brenda (Abram) Dixon of Grove City, Ohio, and Pamela Lishey of Las Vegas, Nevada; special great nieces, Marsha Brown, Cherri (Eric) Jett, of Richmond, Indiana, and Sabrina Brown of Cincinnati, Ohio; special great nephew, Edward (Keri) Brickerson of San Antonio, Texas; special cousin, Candace Cooper of Columbus, Ohio: and a host of nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

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Service Schedule

Past Services

Floral Delivery Access Information

Wednesday, February 23, 2022

10:00am - 4:00 pm (Eastern time)

Diehl-Whittaker Funeral Service (Main Lobby)

720 East Long Street, Columbus, OH 43203

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Visitation

Thursday, February 24, 2022

10:00 - 11:00 am (Eastern time)

The Church of Christ of the Apostolic Faith

1200 Brentnell Avenue, Columbus, OH 43219

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Funeral Service

Thursday, February 24, 2022

11:00am - 12:00 pm (Eastern time)

The Church of Christ of the Apostolic Faith

1200 Brentnell Avenue, Columbus, OH 43219

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Funeral Webcasting

Thursday, February 24, 2022

Starts at 11:00 am (Eastern time)

To attend the service remotely, please visit Gladys’ tribute wall and click on the post that reads "Live Webcast."

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