Bennie Turknett

Mrs. Bennie Kathrine (Smith) Turknett, age 92, passed away Monday, March 30, 2026. Services for Mrs. Turknett will be held Tuesday, April 7, at 2:00 p.m. at the First Christian Church in Bainbridge, Georgia. Pastor Darin Slaymaker will officiate. The service will conclude at the church, with the family receiving friends at a small reception afterward. A private interment will be held later at the West Bainbridge Cemetery.

Bennie Turknett was born on November 18, 1933, in Bainbridge, Georgia, the daughter of Ralph and Kathrine Smith. Learning from the hard times of a childhood during the Great Depression, she strived to turn every hardship into something positive to be shared. While a teenager, she met her love, Bobby Lawrence Turknett, at the Rexall Swimming Pool in Bainbridge; they married soon after in 1951 and later had three children who were her pride and joy. She and Bobby ultimately enjoyed 73 years of marriage together.

Her kitchen was the center of activity in her home, always filled with the aromas of made-from-scratch foods along with a table set and ready for whoever might show up. Sunday lunches were particularly special because she would wake up and start cooking early enough to make sure everything would be ready as soon after church as possible. Family and friends enjoyed her roasts, fried chicken, collards, and homemade cornbread. Those meals were her love language and were served from the heart.

Her cakes were mouthwatering, especially her caramel cake, which was often described as "pure perfection." Her divinity fudge was legendary. She was famous for being able to prepare it flawlessly without worrying about the outdoor humidity—a truly masterful accomplishment in the South. Every year at Christmas, Bobby would deliver huge trays to excited neighbors and friends around town. She also made thousands of cookies and tea sandwiches for various weddings and special events.

Bennie did not boast about her kindness and talents. Instead, she worked quietly in the background making quilts for newborns, delivering entire meals to the families of those who were ill, creating unique wooden and hand-sewn toys with her husband for nieces and nephews, and often rounding up donations for those in need. She and Bobby shared their home with almost 20 foster children over the years as well as multiple adults needing support. She lived ninety-two years with quiet, Southern grace.

Her church was a fundamental part of her life. She loved to sing almost as much as others loved hearing her; she was known for her soaring voice whose timbre was almost operatic at times. She also never missed a beat when playing the piano. From organizing activities for Vacation Bible School to providing food for fellowship, she was a devoted member and never missed a service.

Mrs. Turknett was preceded in death by her husband of 73 years, Bobby Lawrence Turknett. She is survived by her children, Leslie Turknett Belcher (Keith) of Cornelius, North Carolina, and Russell (Russ) S. Turknett of Bainbridge, Georgia; sister, Anne Smith Wilder (Clayton) of Tallahassee, Florida; brothers, Robert (Bob) Franklin Smith (Paula) of Thomasville, Georgia, and Charles Henry Smith of Bainbridge, Georgia; grandson, Bobby Lawrence Turknett III of Bainbridge; great-grandchildren, Bo, Ali, Lailah, and Bella; sister-in-law, Barbara Coleman Smith of Bainbridge, Georgia; brother-in-law, Daniel Earl Lyons of Auburn, Alabama; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was also preceded in death by her parents, Ralph C. Smith and Kathrine Kirbo Smith of Bainbridge, Georgia; son, Bobby (Bo) Lawrence Turknett, Jr.; sisters, Billie Joan Cochran and Carolyn (Toots) Ethel Lyons; and brother, Ralph C. Smith, Jr.

Online condolences may be sent at www.Coxiveyfuneralhome.com. Cox-Ivey Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to First Christian Church, 908 South Scott Street, Bainbridge, Georgia 39819.