Mary Lynn Austin Turnbow was born March 25, 1940 to the parents of Dewey and Martha Perkins Austin, who preceded her in death as well as one brother, Terry Ray Austin. She was a Christian wife and mother. She and her husband, Leland Claude Turnbow , who preceded her in death in 2014, celebrated 60 married years together. They raised two children. Judy Turnbow Patterson, husband Ted of Sardis, TN. and a son, Donny Turnbow, wife Janice of Savannah, TN. She has one grand-daughter, Brittany
Jones, husband Matthew, Counce, TN. Three grandsons, Jason Patterson, wife Marie of Murfreesboro, TN., Adam Patterson, wife Nadine of Grellingen, Switzerland, and Brandon Turnbow, wife Chelsea of Bon
Aqua, TN. She was blessed with 10 great grand-children, Isabella, Ashtyn, Jackson, Harper, Aiden, McCrae, Lanah (who was born her birthday), Woodrow and Beau Patterson and little Alayna Turnbow who was born in January, 2019, several nieces and nephew of whom she loved dearly.
Mary Lynn Turnbow left this life March 14, 2019 at the age of 78 years, 11 months and 14 days after a long struggle with several illnesses. Many might never know the daily health issues she endured because she was always busy at something, with a smile on her face. She was a retired factory worker but she never slowed down, enjoying working outside on the farm and would never be found inside on a dry day. She wasn’t one to ask for help because she wanted to do for herself. The words “wait on help”
were not in her vocabulary. There wasn’t any task that she would not tackle on her own. She loved people and enjoyed going to the Senior Center in Sardis. She certainly looked forward to the Tuesday morning Bible studies. Although she loved being an active member of the Hinkle First Baptist Church since 1969, she certainly enjoyed attending services at other Churches on Sunday nights, as long as her health permitted. Her Bible wasn’t a book that collected dust. Although she married very young, she was proud to have later earned her high school diploma. Nothing ever came easy, even getting her passport took months and practically an act of congress, but she got it and loved flying and seeing new places.
Her birthday cards will be missed and the way she could make a meal seem like a holiday feast. We will miss the simple times of just sitting and relaxing with her. No place ever felt warmer, safer, or loved. Mary Lynn Turnbow was a blessing to us that love her. And her passing has left an irreplaceable void in our hearts. Most of all she loved God and the hope of heaven through his Son, Jesus.