In Loving Memory of William Earl Turner
October 24, 1937 - October 1, 2019
Billy
Earl Turner, also known as William E. Turner, Esq. was born in Kaufman, Texas, to
Thomas Jerome and Bessie Mae Scott on October 24, 1937. He was the first of
three
children
born to this union. Billy attended Edison Jr. High School and graduated from
Fremont
High School in Los Angeles, California. He loved to play baseball, was an
avid
reader, and listened to Talk Radio. During the summer months, he would acquire
a
paper route.
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Straight
out High School Billy attended Trade Technical College of Los Angeles,
California.
Then he earned a degree in Law in 1971 at the University of California,
Los
Angeles. Billy excelled in all of his academic studies and received many awards
&
titles.
However, he was so humble in relation to all of his academic accomplishments.
At
seven-years-old Billy accepted Christ and was baptized at the Gospel Mission
Baptist
Church
in Los Angeles, CA. He became a Sunday School Teacher for the youth.
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In
the year 1960, Billy Earl served in the US Army and was stationed in Germany.
He
was ranked as a Private First Class MP, and he played on the Army baseball
team.
In
the year 1963, he was given an Honorable Discharge.
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Prior
to being drafted in the Army, Billy was united in Holy Matrimony to Anna
Laura
Thornton. They met at the Zion Hill Baptist Church. Their marriage lasted
10
years, unfortunately, Anna Laura passed away in 1971. To this union, three
children
were
born Kelley Marlene, Catherine Lynette, and Michael Blake. He wed again in
1972
to Betty Betts and to this union, one child was born Phillip Justin Turner.
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Billy,
over his life, had multiple vocations. Baseball was intertwined in Billyâs
life. He
became
a member of the Angels Minor Leagues team as a pitcher in Los Angeles, CA
in
the mid-1950's. After a sports injury and once he began his family his vocation
shifted.
He became a County Clerk in Los Angeles and later became a Deputy Sheriff
functioning
as a Bailiff in the Courts of the City of Los Angeles. Billy became an
Attorney
practicing in the County of Los Angeles Public Defenders Office. Thus, he
retired
from the Los Angeles County Public Defenderâs Office. Later in life, he began a
private
practice and never forgetting the less fortunate along the way.
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Billy
Earl always had a joke to tell. He had an outgoing personality. Some of the
things
he liked to do were dancing, tennis, family gatherings, and listening to all
genres
of
music. He loved to sing and was often compared to the likes of Sam Cooke. Billy
was
associated with the California Bar Association, LA County Bar Association,
Langston
Bar Association and Kappa Alpha Phi.
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Billy's
1st wife Anna Laura Turner, his father Thomas Jerome Turner, mother Bessie
Mae
Scott, aunt Ethel Mae Turner, and a cousin Alpha Rae all preceded him in death.
Those
left to cherish his memory are his children: Kelley Turner, Catherine "Cathy"
Turner,
Michael Turner and Phillip (Casey) Turner; the mother of his child, Betty Betts
Turner;
sister Bobbie Rainey, brothers: Thomas Turner and Charles Turner;
grandchildren:
Courtney, Morgan, Corey, and Ava; great-grandchildren: Gary Junior
and
Christian Johnathan. He also leaves a host of loving nieces, nephews, cousins,
colleagues and friends.