Gerald St. Clair Turnage - Obituary

erald St. Clair Turnage, son of the late Johnnie Gerald Turnage and Mabel Turnage Hankins was born on December 1, 1941 in Enfield, NC. On Friday April 5, 2019, he was called home for eternal rest. Gerald was educated in the public schools of New Hanover County. He graduated from Williston Senior High School in Wilmington, NC in 1960. After graduation, he moved to Washington D.C. to attend Howard University and fell in love with the city that later became his permanent home. After completing his freshman year at Howard, he was drafted into the Army and completed one tour of duty where he honorably served his country. He then returned to the Washington area and completed his education receiving both a Bachelor’s in Business Administration and Master’s degree from the University of the District of Columbia. He was united in matrimony to his high school sweetheart and lifetime love, Junetta Williams. This union was blessed with two daughters, Sheila and Geralyn. Gerald retired after 30 years of service to the federal government in October 1994. He began his career in civil service at the United States Postal Service in 1962. He later transferred to the Bureau of Census where he began his career as a Supervisory Computer Systems Analyst. After retirement, he opened a tax preparation and accounting services firm with his partners, the late Richard Turnage and Allen Caster - Caster, Turnage and Associates. It has serviced the surrounding community and his family of friends and clients for almost 30 years. He was an active and highly respected member of the Masonic Family. Gerald was a loving and devoted father, husband, brother and friend. He will surely be missed but never forgotten by the friends, family and even strangers whose lives he touched. He leaves to cherish his memories: a loving wife of 52 years, Junetta; two daughters Sheila Burls and Geralyn Turnage-Lewis (Timothy), a brother, Melvin Turnage; a sister, Sylvia Turnage Clemmons; three brothers-in-law, Reginal Clemmons, David Williams and James Williams; four sisters-in-law, Jacqueline Turnage, Karen Turnage, Pamela Williams, Agnes Trent; godchildren Brian Trent, Cheryl Stokes and Dakara Reid; hosts of nieces, nephews, cousins and other relatives and many caring friends.