Sudie Turner lived an exemplary life filled with family, her God and Church family at West Main Church of Christ and her community. Jettie Sue “Sudie” Parham Turner died Thursday, August 27, 2026 at Sanctuary Hospice House in Tupelo after a period of declining health. She was 87 years old. Sudie was born in Lee County on November 23, 1938 in the Brice’s Crossroads Community near Baldwyn to Hillard Boyd Parham and Nora Ola Hall Parham. She was married at age 16 in l955 to the love of her life, Calvin Lee Turner, a 63 year marriage until his death in 2018. They were blessed with three sons, Danny when she was 16years old, Freddie at age 18 and Lee Wayne at age 37. A master housewife, mom, grandmother and sister, Sudie loved her home and made it a place of comfort and joy for family and friends. She was an expert cook , preparing fried potatoes, garden vegetables, turnip greens, (perfectly seasoned), fried chicken, pork chops and special desserts like caramel and pecan pies and Lee Wayne’s favorite, Red Velvet Cake. She was passionate about all things Elvis – especially when accompanied by her sisters, Jackie and Donnie – and was a charter member of the Elvis Fan Club attending many Elvis events. She was a faithful, active charter member of West Main Church of Christ and enjoyed many trips with her fellow Ya Ya’s, and her sisters to Gatlinburg, the Biltmore, Natchez and other fun destinations. Her only “real” job was as a keypunch operator at Mid South Packers where Calvin also worked… She and Calvin owned Family House Restaurant as well as Southern Quality Meats in Pontotoc. Sudie’s presence was exemplary of the Golden Rule and her sterling personality made all she met feel comfortable and encouraged.
A celebration of life service will be held at 3 PM Saturday, August 29, 2026 in the Sade Holland Memorial Chapel at Holland Funeral Directors in Tupelo with Minister Troy McNutt officiating. Visitation will be from 2 PM to service time Saturday only. Private burial will take place at Lee Memorial Park. For those unable to attend, the service will be live-streamed at 3 PM at hollandfuneraldirectors.com/live-streaming. Holland Funeral Directors – Tupelo Chapel is honored to serve their close friends.
Sudie is survived by her children, Danny Turner (Phyllis), Freddie Turner (Paula); grandchildren, Chip Turner, Lori Spires, Dan Turner (Lindsey), and Kristen Tucker (Tyler); great-grandchildren, Hannah Westmoreland, Evan Westmoreland, Eliza Turner, Sadie Tucker, Cal Turner, Sawyer Tucker, and Drake Turner; her siblings, Donnie Goddard of Booneville, MS, and Jackie Griffus (Bud) of Baldwyn, MS; and other relatives and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Hillard and Nora Parham; her husband, Calvin Turner; her son, Lee Wayne Turner, who died in 2014; and her brothers, Boyd Parham and Thomas “Dute” Parham.
Pallbearers will be Chip Turner, Dan Turner, Tyler Tucker, Evan Westmoreland, Cal Turner, and Drake Turner.
Memorials may be made to Sanctuary Hospice House, P. O. Box 2177, Tupelo, MS 38802.
