Mary Lou Turner Renew, 89, passed away on September 1, 2022, at Four County Health & Rehab Center, in Richland, Georgia.

Mary Lou was born on May 4, 1933 in Calhoun County, Georgia, to the late Murphy Frank Turner and May Louise Eubanks Turner, one of 11 children.

While working at Patterson Hospital in Cuthbert, Georgia, she met and married J. P. Renew in June of 1952.  J. P. was a career soldier in the United States Army.  During the course of his career, they lived in Cuthbert, Georgia; Ft. Belvoir, Virginia; Orleans, France; El Paso, Texas; Karlsruhe, Germany; Ft. Bragg, North Carolina; Ft. Campbell, Kentucky; Ft. Riley, Kansas.  The family lived several times in Lumpkin, Georgia, while J. P. was serving in Korea and Vietnam.  The family settled in Lumpkin in 1969 when J. P. retired, in 1970, after 24 years in the service.

Mary Lou was a very capable woman.  She achieved her GED and worked as a teacher's aid in the Randolph County School System for several years.  She drove the school bus to Lakeside School in Eufaula, Alabama, and worked in the lunchroom for several years.

After she "retired", she devoted time to her passion of doing crafts.  She loved ceramics and doing any kind of craftwork, which she passed on to family and friends.  She NEVER missed a yard sale, and surrounded herself with things she loved.

Mary Lou was an active member of the Lumpkin Baptist Church.  Her faith sustained her throughout her life.  When her first child Larry, was diagnosed with cancer in 1997, she cared for him throughout his illness.  She did the same for her daughter Lisa, when she was diagnosed with a deadly illness, as she had with J. P. at his death.

She was a surrogate mother to every child that her children dragged into their home.  Their parents knew that as long as Mary Lou was there, their children were ok.  They had to work very hard to "sneak" past her!

She faced the end of her life with dignity and grace.  The inability to do the things she loved; reading, working puzzles, crafts; was handled without complaint.

The family would like to thank everyone who kept her in their thoughts, asked about her, sent cards or came to visit.  Your kindness during this time will never be forgotten.

She is preceded in death by both of her parents; her husband, J. P. Renew; son, Larry Stephen Renew; daughter, Lisa Carol Funderburke; two brothers, Curtis Turner, James Turner; grandson, Colton Renew; three stepbrothers, Floyd Turner, Roy Turner (KIA WW2), George Turner; two stepsisters, Vadie Turner Stephens, Lydie Turner Lindsey.

Mary Lou is survived by two sons, James Paul "Bubba" Renew of Lumpkin, Georgia, Kevin Scott (Debbie) Renew of Lithia, Florida; two brothers, Calvin "Buddy" Turner of Albany, Georgia, John Turner of Dothan, Alabama; sister, Carolyn Lynch of Lumpkin, Georgia; four grandchildren, Larry Scott Renew, Logan Renew, Laramie Renew, Jeffery Preston Funderburke;   five great-grandchildren, Kristopher Renew, Kennady Renew, Connor Renew, Ansley Funderburke, Wyatt Funderburke.

A Graveside Service will be held on Wednesday morning, September 7, 2022, at 10:00 AM, at Northside Cemetery in Lumpkin, GA.  The Reverend Raymond Smith will officiate the service.  The family will visit with friends after the service.

In Lieu of Flowers: In Memory of Mrs. Mary Lou: to the Lumpkin Baptist Church, P O Box 68, Lumpkin, GA 31815 or the Stewart Webster Cancer Fund, 6381 Hamilton St, Preston, GA 31824.

Please visit our web site at www.baldwinfuneralhome.com to sign the guest book.  Baldwin Funeral Home, 50 Charles Overby Dr.,   P O Box 394, Richland, GA 31825, was in charge of all arrangements. 229-887-2750