Mrs. Mary Ellen Turner Askew, age 79, of Tennille passed away on Saturday, December 2, 2023, at the Washington County Regional Medical Center. A graveside funeral service to celebrate her life will be held on Tuesday, December 5th at 1:00 P.M. in the Zeta Cemetery of Tennille. Reverend Danny Thomas will officiate. The family will greet friends at graveside following the service.
Mrs. Turner was born on December 17, 1943, in Tennille, the daughter of the late S. Thomas Turner and the late Myrtice Horton Turner Everett. She was a graduate of the Tennille High School. Ellen began her working career while in high school at the Arcade Grill before a formal profession in food service management operating the cafeteria at Brentwood School. Mrs. Turner also managed the Thiele Kaolin Company owned Villa South Motor Inn and Restaurant. In retirement, she managed food services for the Twin City County Club and worked as an elementary school substitute teacher. Ellen was a member of the Tennille Baptist Church and a Past Club President of the Washington County Pilot Club. Mrs. Turner enjoyed reading and cherished time spent with her family. She is preceded in death by her son Jeffrey Askew; grandson, Jonathan Askew; and brother, Hugh Turner.
Survivors include her husband Grady Askew of Tennille; children, David Askew and wife Allyson of Milen and Susan Askew Matthews and husband Christopher of Winston; grandchildren, Danile Askew, Ben Askew, Hurley Askew, Kayla Dixon, Steven Askew, and Lisa Matthews; great-grandchildren, Jeffrey Askew and Claudia Harris; and siblings, Harold Turner of Warner Robins, Judy Morgan of Tennille, and Debbie Burgamy of Tennille.
Donations may be made to the St. Jude Children’s Cancer Research Hospital at stjude.org/donate or to the Shriners Hospitals for Children at donate.lovetotherescue.org.
Online condolences may be expressed at mayandsmithfuneraldirectors.com.
May and Smith Funeral Directors is in charge of these arrangements.