Journal of the Central Texas Conference, Fifth Annual Session, Methodist Episcopal Church, South Page: 48
109 p. ; 20 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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48 CENTRAL TEXAS CONFERENCE JOURNAL
sinners were converted, saints comforted and strengthened and
the work of the kingdom established.
Brother Downs was happily married to Miss Mollie Gray,
daughter of Dr. A. J. Gray, before he began to preach, she was
ever a most capable and efficient help-meet to him in his life
work. To them were born three sons, Earnest, Otis and Curtis,
and one daughter, little Mary.
The members of this Conference join Sister Downs, and her
children in this sore bereavement, and pledge them our love and
assistance while they continue the journey of life without him,
who was so much to them and us, knowing that we shall meet
our loved, our own some sweet day, a day that shall be cloudless
and unending.
NEAL W. TURNER
Startling and awful was the news that flashed over the
wires that Neal W. Turner was drowned. He lost his life in
endeavoring to save his son and another boy who were also
drowned. The triple tragedy occurred in a lake near Corsicana,
August 22nd, 1914.
Neal W. Turner, son of Rev. and Mrs. S. W. Turner, was
born in the Methodist parsonage at Henderson, Texas, Feb-
ruary 18, 1879. He received his education in the public schools,
supplemented with a two years' college course in Polytechnic
and Weatherford Colleges. In November, 1900, when a young
man, engaged in business at Cisco. He was happily married
to Miss Ellen Eddleman. Of this union two children were
born, Herman and Edith Wilson. The daughter lives to mourn
with her broken-hearted mother the untimely death of a de-
voted husband and father.
Brother Turner was converted in childhood and when about
twelve years of age ratified church vows. He was licensed
to preach by the Brownwood District Conference, W. H. Mat-
thews, P. E., in 1904, and joined the Northwest Texas Confer-
ence in November, 1905; he was ordained deacon in 1905, and
Elder at Waco in 1908. His first appointment was Gatesville
Mission, which he supplied in 1905 under his father, the Presid-
ing Elder of the Gatesville District. As a member of the Con-
ference, he served the following charges: Evant Mission, 1905-
6; Valley Mills, 1906-7-8; Clifton, 1909; Meridian, 1910-11; Elev-
enth Avenue, Corsicana, 1912-13-14.
In every one of these pastoral charges his name is a house-
hold word with the fragrance of pure spikenard, and being
dead he still lives in the hearts and lives of the people.
Neal W. Turner was a prince among men. Nature had gen-
erously endowed him with rare gifts. Physically he was every
inch a man-athletic, handsome, and possessed of a winning per-
sonality. His intellect was of a high order and finely poised. In
breadth and sweep of soul he was God's nobleman. There was
nothing little in his entire makeup. To associate with him was
to feel the kinship of a real man and catch the inspiration of a
noble life.
This man among men was a Christian with a religious ex-
perience. He was converted when a boy twelve years of age
and lived and died in the Church. His religion was personal as
well as professional, something to be enjoyed as well as preached.
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Methodist Episcopal Church, South. Journal of the Central Texas Conference, Fifth Annual Session, Methodist Episcopal Church, South, periodical, November 1914; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth49828/m1/48/: accessed May 6, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Archives of the Central Texas Conference United Methodist Church.