Nancy Louisa Day Turnage, 73, of Lakeland, FL, formerly of Craig County, Virginia, went to her heavenly home on April 04, 2017. She passed away following a long and courageous battle with breast cancer, surrounded by her family at her home in Lakeland, Florida. She was born a coal miner’s daughter in Buchanan County, VA, on October 08, 1943 to Burley Whitten and Ollie Mae Day.
In 1952, when she was nine years old, Craig County became her home. She was a graduate of New Castle High School. In her early adult years, she had a calling to help children. She would gather her nieces, nephews and other children in the neighborhood under a tree on a blanket and read children stories from the Bible to them. She became known as “Nannie”.
At the age of 26 she felt God calling her to attend Southeastern Bible College (now Southeastern University). She achieved her Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education and went on to teach for over 30 years in Polk County, FL. She taught the early grades, trying to make each child feel special. Some of the children would come to school hungry and many times she would bake biscuits at home to give to them.
While attending college she met and later married Joseph Franklin Turnage from Newport News, Virginia, who also had a calling to go to Southeastern Bible College. They married in April 1972 and were happily married for 45 years.
She was of the Assembly of God Faith and her faith and dedication to the Lord gave her the strength to endure her suffering with cancer to the end.
In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by her four brothers and their wives; Newton B and Trula B Day, John Edward and Faye Ann Day, Jimmie Day (died from a vehicle accident at the age of 17), all from Craig County, VA, and Henry Jesse Day of North Tazewell, VA.
Those left to cherish her memory include her husband, Joseph Franklin Turnage, daughter Rebecca “Faith” (Chris) Hallock, son Joseph C (Melissa) Turnage, granddaughters Hannah Lee Hallock and Lillie Grace Hallock, grandsons Ashton Turnage and Ethan Turnage, all of Lakeland, FL. Her grandchildren were the sunshine in her world. She loved being their “Nanna”. Also surviving is one sister, Lillie Tennessee Day (Robert) Reynolds, of New Castle, VA, a sister-in-law Eleanor O. Day of North Tazewell, VA, numerous nieces and nephews, who will miss their “Nannie”.
Her battle is now over and she has gone to rest high on that mountain with her Heavenly Father, where she can sing and shout with the Angels where there is no more pain. Burial was in Lakeland Memorial Gardens on April 7, 2017 in Lakeland, FL.