Julie Renee Turner
January 9, 2024
Julie Renee Turner passed away in her home on January 9th, 2024, at the age of 54, after braving a relentless battle with lung cancer. Julie was surrounded by people who loved her dearly and who will honor her legacy by living lives full of love and joy. Julie’s love of life does not end with her death. Before her death, Julie made it clear that her friends and family must embrace life to the fullest.
How do you sum up a lifetime of memories and accomplishments in a few paragraphs, especially for someone as beloved as our Julie? Simply, to know Julie was to love Julie. Julie was magnetic, funny, and endearing. She demonstrated an endless capacity for love and forgiveness, and her reach was far and wide. Julie was a fiercely loyal friend, dedicated sister, amazing daughter and was never happier than when she reconnected with and married the love of her life, Raina.
Julie loved to have fun. She could dance the night away, cheered relentlessly for her Dawgs, made a mean pot roast, and spent as much time as possible by the sea. To say Julie loved the beach is an understatement. She especially loved spending time at the beach with her friends and family. Julie was inquisitive and afraid of almost nothing (well, maybe roller coasters) – she loved to travel and to sail and to meet new people. She loved plants and made the world a more beautiful place through her work with trees and flowers.
It is difficult to capture so many things about Julie but, above all, she put family and friends first. She loved fiercely. She made everyone who knew her laugh, cry, and clap at all the stories she shared and everything in between. She was simply the brightest smile in the room.
Julie is predeceased by her parents, Martha Kate Presley and Marion Turner. She is survived by her wife Raina Lenney and her two step-children Kieran Stevens and Brendan Stevens, her two sisters Wendy Wheless and Brook Turner, her brother Jeff Turner and his wife Michelle Turner and their children Brittany Turner, Noah Turner, and Hailey Miller, her step-mother Peggy Turner, her step-father Bill Gardiner and step-sister Karen Briggs, and an abundance of friends and family members who will keep her memory alive.
A service will be held on Monday, January 22, at 1 p.m., at Saint Mark United Methodist Church in Atlanta: 781 Peachtree Street NE, Atlanta, GA 30308. You can send flowers to this address or, in lieu of flowers, see below for information on planting a tree in Julie’s honor.
Free parking is available behind the church in the parking deck. Additionally, the service will be live streamed here: https://stmarkumc.church/JulieTurnerService.
Following the service, please join the family for a celebration of Julie’s life in the Piedmont Room at Park Tavern, 500 10th St. NE Atlanta,
GA, 30309. Food and drink will be provided from 3 – 5 p.m. Metered parking is available onsite.
Julie, you were the best friend that anybody could ever ask for. Your infectious laugh, dance moves, and empathetic heart will never be forgotten. You left small pieces of yourself with so many people. My backyard landscape will never be better than it was this past summer. I will try to recreate it and fail miserably. lol Rest easy my dear friend! I will see you again one day! You are simply the best!
Love and prayers for all those who knew her. May the memories you have with her forever remain in your hearts.
Julie…so many memories- thank you for being my “coming out” confidant, best roommate, most loyal and genuine friend. It’s hard to process this yet has been a hoot enjoying all the random memories from the 90’s flooding my brain ( Thank God no cell phones back then)! I expect and will be looking for signs you’re watching … you know you’re greatly missed!
JT, you will never be forgotten. You always made people laugh. I’m so glad I was able to meet you. Forever remembered at Lake Jackson! Rest in peace. You made a difference in this world!
I love you and will always miss you, Friend. You were such a bright light and that light will continue to shine bright in everyone that had the chance to know you. What an amazing Angel you will be to so many. I know you are dancing and smiling. Fly high, Until we meet again. Love and Peace.
I taught and coached Julie in middle school – she was my point guard, and a joy to be around! Probably my favorite memory of Julie was as we were warming up before a game. Our opponent had a girl who was a great shooter and had given us fits the last time we played them, mainly because of my poor coaching. Julie came walking over to me and said, “Coach, put me on her.” I did, and Julie pretty much shut her down. She had the biggest grin on her face after the game!
Julie was so full of life and happiness, and I know her family and friends will miss her – my prayers go out to everyone close to her.
Julie will be missed in our neighborhood. Her dedication to family and friends were so evident. Her infectious smile and sense of humor were contagious!
Jim, thank you so much for sharing this story. Julie, will be greatly missed by her family and friends.
When I think of Julie I always see a smile and her energetic humorous personality that loved deeply. Such a beautiful strong, loving human being. Her light will always shine.
God Speed. I’m so sorry to hear about your passing
Julie I love and miss you, my friend. You made me a better person and were always there when I or anyone else needed you. I’m so lucky to have had you in my life. Rest well, my friend. Until we meet again fly high!
I’ve had the pleasure of knowing Julie for 30 years and when I think of her, I picture that smile! She will be forever missed!!! Love and prayers for her family and friends!! 🙏❤️
Love you JT…now you can dance with your Momma❤️
It is with great sorrow to learn of Juli’s passing. Such a charismatic person who drew others to her. You will be missed.
JT- be rest in peace. I know your spirit will live on. ❤️
I love you, my mom loved you so much. Thank you for always being such a good friend to her. I know y’all are up there having so much fun together ❤️❤️
JT….the love and joy you brought into our lices will continue to live on as you are a part of all of us and now you look over us all. So many fun and memorable times…nothing that does not bring a smile. Love for you and all the friends and family celebrating your life! March on!
JT every time I saw you, you had a smile on your face. That’s how I will always remember you. Fly high my friend ❤️
JT , the light and love you shared with so many of us will stay with us forever. The kindness and love you shared will stay forever in our hearts. You will truly be missed my sweet friend. I will love you forever. Fly high angel ❤️
JT, you brought smiles to all the faces you encountered. You were the laughter that filled a dance floor. You treated others with kindness and brought so much joy to this world. You will be greatly missed. Prayers for your wife and family❤️ Fly high sweet Angel❤️❤️❤️
Condolences to Julie’s family. Gone too soon but will never be forgotten. May she rest in peace and without pain.
Love you forever and ever, “Aunt JT”. ❤️
Julie Turner. You are so loved You will be missed Forever. You touched all of us in one way or another. I remember our first real time hanging out together. We ran into each other at Backstreet. We were drinking a little, lol. I had just bought a new pair of Boots. We were going down the stairs and I got caught on something and hit my knees one step at a time. Never dropped my beer until the last step and then it flew out of my hand and to the dance floor . Julie thanks for helping up to go get another drink
Cheers to you JT. RIP my friend
You Keep on dancing ❤️❤️❤️❤️
Deepest sympathy
I remember Julie walking the halls of Robert E. Lee like she owned the place and her smile was truly infectious. She was tiny in stature but so so tall in personality. That being said, I never realized her true strength until recently. The impressions that her resilience and humor made on me during her illness will last the rest of my life. Julie, may you be as blessed in the next life as I was in this one by knowing you. My heart is truly broken for your family, both by birth and chosen. You will be missed and you are loved!
My sweet JT’Z!! You have always been such a positive, loving, generous, kindhearted person from the first time I met you! I’m definitely going to miss our pork chop pass out days! I definitely lost a piece of my heart when you left this world! Heaven got the BEST angel when you left us! I know you are dancing in heaven with your beautiful mom! Till we meet again, I LOVE YOU! Every time I cross railroad tracks and pick my feet up I think of you. Love you always and forever! We both love signs from heaven above! I can’t wait till I get yours! 🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️😘😘😘😘😘
What a beautiful smile in this photo! Just the way she always was and will be remembered by all of us who loved her! Rest in peace Julie! ❤️❤️
There are so many words you can use to describe this woman! She was just the total life of the party! She would make anyone feel just like family. Which she was a big part of our family. All the holidays were so much better with her there. I will always love and miss you. Till we meet again my friend. 💜
My sweet sister, known by Red to me, has fought the good fight and now has her reward of Jesus’s promise to us…she is reunited with our mom and dad with a healed body and soul…words cannot accurately describe how much I miss you Red, nor can words describe how much I’ll miss you from hereafter….there’s a void in my heart but Julie dwells in a part of my heart where only God dwells…Grief is the price we pay for love and my love for Julie is bonded in our shared blood.
I will always remember your laugh and making people smile. The world was a better place because you were in it. Rest In Peace, Jules.
You were always such a joy to be around and worked so hard and everyone in the office and all your clients loved you!! Rest in Peace Julie. I love you!!!
Julie was a true gem, I always loved hanging out with her during a Dawgs game. Also with a smile and just a joy to be with.
Sending prayers to Julie’s family. She was truly a light. I have many fond memories of her in High school. We had the opportunity to catch up a few years ago and it was like old times. Rest easy dear friend, we are blessed to have known you.
JT – you were loved by so many and your light will never go out amongst those that love you and always will! Fly high!
We love you JT. Thank you for all the love and kindness you brought to this world.
Now this is good content. You can tell that plenty of thought when into this post. Nice work.
“There are some who bring a light so great to the world that even after they are gone, the light remains.”
Rest in peace, Julie.
JT you burned bright for all of us; lighting up rooms and smiles. You brought so much joy and laughter to all of us. Thank you. You will be missed, but not forgotten.
Nice post. It’s very well thought out and quite educating. Stick with it.
OMG!! I just found out that this amazing person passed away. She was such a bright light to any room she entered and was a friend to do many. She always had a smile on her face and she loved to have fun. It’s so hard to believe that she’s gone but for anyone that knew her, her bright light shines on!!