Iva Mae (Smithers) Turner

Iva Mae (Smithers) Turner, 81, passed away on Wednesday, February 2, 2011. Born November 1, 1929 to Walter Garfield and Eva (Arnold) Smithers, she was the youngest of five children. A 1947 graduate of East High School, Iva received BS and MA degrees from The Ohio State University. She was a former music teacher and elementary school teacher for 28 years in the Columbus Public Schools, a lifetime member of Mt. Vernon Ave. AME Church and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, a member of Top Ladies of Distinction, Inc., Phi Lambda Theta, the American Association of University Women, and a past Board member of the Westerville Symphony. In addition to her parents, Iva is predeceased by husband Theodore H. Turner, son Teddy Jr., grandson Jansen Sanders, brothers, Walter, Lester, and Vincent Smithers, and sister Artie Meeks. Survived by daughters Marcia Turner Conley and Amy (Wendell) Sanders; grandchildren, Hilary Conley, Donald Conley, II, Lydia, Melita, and Abigail Sanders; great grandsons Jaylin Conley and Donald Conley, III; sisters-in-law, Mildred Smithers, Helen (Rev. McKinley) Franklin of Harvey, LA, and Elaine Turner of Shaker Heights, Ohio; brother-in-law Rev. Harold Turner and a host of other loving family members and friends. Funeral service 12 Noon, Friday, February 11, 2011 at Mt. Vernon Ave. AME Church, 1127 Mt. Vernon Ave., where the family will receive friends and special tributes from 10:00 until start of service. Rev. William S. Wheatley, officiating. Entombment Union Cemetery. Arrangements entrusted to Diehl-Whittaker Funeral Service, 720 E. Long Street. In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorable contribution to the Mt. Vernon Ave. AME Scholarship Fund in Iva’s memory.