08/30/2024
William Waugh Turner III
July 28, 1940 - January 3, 2023
NASHVILLE - William Waugh Turner III, 82, died Tuesday, January 3, 2023, at Tift Regional Medical Center (Southwell). Mr. Turner was born July 28, 1940 in Nashville, Berrien County, Georgia, and was the son of the late Ruby Christina Gaskins Turner and the late Dr. W. W. Turner, Jr. His maternal grandparents were Frances Josephine Peeples Gaskins, and Alvah W. Gaskins of Nashville, Berrien County, Georgia. His paternal grandparents were William Waugh Turner and Ruth Solom Dorman Turner of Winnsboro, Fairfield County, South Carolina. He was also preceded in death by his sisters, Joan Elaine Cantrell, who died in August 2022 and Alethea Christina Turner, who died in March 2003. Grand nephew, Quinn Cantrell McCusker, passed away in December 2018.
Mr. Turner attended schools in Berrien County, where he graduated from Berrien High School in 1958. He graduated from Emory University in 1962, majoring in psychology and continued his education at the University of Georgia, pursuing graduate studies in psychology and working as lab assistant under Dr. William T. James. He was privileged to publish an animal behavioral paper with his major professor, Dr. James, a 1929 Cornell PhD recipient. James influenced young Turner and they remained friends, with Turner visiting often, until James' death at age 95 in 1998. Turner remained at the University of Georgia, earning a JD at the Lumpkin School of Law, and, practiced law for more than fifty years in the Nashville, Berrien County, area. Waugh was a general practitioner, but, particularly enjoyed working with Social Security disability clients, and, trying to help anyone whom he felt was getting less than fair treatment, whether it be a civil rights or other personal liberty matter.
Waugh’s love of psychology and animal behavior was one of the reasons that he almost always had a canine companion. He was continually teaching and observing their behavior, while also, loving and caring for them. Among his favorite canine companions were, Ghia (Doberman Pincher), Reddick of Clepsydra (Border Collie), Preto Bubba (Golden Retriever mix), Lang Ko (Chow Chow), Gelert, searcher of Wiregrass (Coonhound), Tomba (Maremma), and, Isildur (German Shepherd). He was close to Gaile Bailey's Border Collies, Bridget, Maggie Mae, and Sadie Mae.
In 1958, a few months before his 18th birthday, Waugh traveled to Cuba to visit with Bobby Rodriquez, who had come to Nashville to attend Berrien High School for a term. Bobby’s family were neighbors of Maria Prida’s family in Cuba. Ms. Prida had come to Norman Park School, in south Georgia, and, met and married Henry Patten. Waugh spent several weeks in Cuba at the time the Cuban revolution was nearing its climax. Waugh spoke often of his experiences in Cuba and was always eager to converse in Spanish with anyone who he could engage. Bobby remained a friend and they had recently spoken by phone.
Just after graduating from high school, Waugh and local friends, made a trip “out west” camping, and hiking, and visiting the Grand Canyon and numerous other landmarks and national parks. His love for travel continued, as he made other trips through the west, once driving his sister Alethea’s Plymouth Valiant from California with, accompanied by his dog, Ghia. He wasn’t a world traveler, but, enjoyed all the places he had the opportunity to visit. Among his other favorite places to hike and camp were the north the Georgia mountains, North Carolina, and Tennessee.
Beginning in 1979, Waugh began jogging, for physical and mental health. He ran four to six miles several times a week, participated in local road races, particularly enjoying races of longer distances. His favorite race was the Mad Dog Chase, a half-marathon staggered run. Hip and ankle problems, along with a stroke in 2009, limited him to walking.
Waugh loved the arts, literature, history and music. While a sophomore student at Georgia Military, Waugh often attended Atlanta Symphony performances, and, when the Valdosta Symphony Orchestra formed, he supported that orchestra through yearly membership.
Mr. Turner made charitable donations locally through a private foundation he formed, Clepsydra Foundation. The foundation funded local scholarships, made contributions to the local historical foundation, The Caring Place, and other non profits. He was mindful of his Turner heritage and made contributions in memory of his great aunt, to the Alethea Carl Turner Book Fund, Winthrop University, and, his grandfather, to The William Waugh Turner (1899) Fund, Davidson College.
For years, Waugh was “the” planning committee for the Descendants of David and Fisher Gaskins Family Reunion. He was knowledgeable about his local Gaskins relatives, as well his Turner ancestors of Fairfield County, South Carolina, where generations of Turners are buried at Old Lebanon Presbyterian Church cemetery.
When his younger sister, Alethea Christina Turner, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1995, he spent several weeks with her in her Manhattan apartment, assisting her, and, accompanied her to Denver, Colorado, for several weeks in late '95 and early '96 where she received treatments for her cancer. He was always a champion for Alethea in her singing and acting career. Though he was six younger than his older sister, Elaine, and, she had left home before he was a teen, their relationship only grew stronger over the years.
Waugh, as anyone who knew him, whether casually or closely, knew of his great mind, memory, and, talents. He amazed others with his recollection, in detail, of most every significant event, date, persons and places he had experienced. He loved to read and absorbed what he read, be it quoting scripture, to poetry, to academic material. He wrote poetry and short stories from at least his teenage years, and, often said that one of the earliest persons to encourage his writing was Martha Nell Durrance, a classmate. Later, Walter Griffin, poet, late of East Point, Georgia, became a close friend, jogging partner, and, friend whom he visited often, praised him and encouraged his writing. Mr. Turner earlier this year self-published a collection of the poetry.
Mr. Turner is survived by two nieces, Joan “Jo” Cantrell (David, deceased) Goldin of Townsend, Georgia, and Elizabeth “Liz” (Peter) McCusker of Nantucket, Massachusetts, grand nephew, William Turner Oliver (Kelly Wegel), three grand nieces, Lindsay Joan Crowder, Merry Elizabeth Crowder (Trevor Neal), and Perrin Elizabeth McCusker; great grand nephew, Noah James Neal; and, Wenda Gaile Bailey, companion, legal assistant, and caregiver.
A memorial service will be on Saturday, January 7th at 2 p.m. in the Chapel at Lovein Funeral Home. Visitation will be one our prior to service. Mr. Turner was a member of the Unitarian-Universalist Church. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that donations be made to The Caring Place, Berrien Historical Foundation, or your charity of choice.
