Arlene (Turnage) Byers

Arlene (Turnage) Byers was born to Houston Calvin and Ecclesiastes (Clee) Dandridge Turnage on October 12, 1937, in Waterford, Mississippi.

She attended Hamilton Chapel and Rosenwald Elementary schools and completed her education at Sims High School.

She later met and fell in love with Ernest M. Byers. They became husband and wife on May 21, 1961. As time moved forward, they decided to relocate and leave the hard farm life behind. They moved to Memphis, TN, and eventually settled in Fort Wayne, IN. Their love produced six children, four sons and two daughters.

She confessed a belief in Christ at a young age. She carried her Christian faith and values throughout her life, and to the very end, Christ was the center of her life. She loved going to church and went religiously until a health pandemic prevented attendance. She always expressed love and joy for her family, especially for her children and grandchildren.

Arlene was preceded in death by her husband, Ernest M. Byers; daughter, Cherlene Byers Morris; sons, Kelvin E. and Lewis Q. Byers. Her parents and brothers Franklin, James, Willie, Prentis, Lorenzo, Horace, Houston Calvin Jr., Johnnie, Jimmy, and Ivory Turnage. Sisters Carrie, Lizzi, and Brenette Carter Turnage, and great-grandson Furious Turnage.

She leaves to cherish her memory, sons, Ernest Ray and Richard Earl (Tina) Byers of Fort Wayne, IN., stepdaughter, Clemenstine Byers of Memphis, TN., 15 grandchildren, 16 Great-grandchildren, 2 great-great grandchildren, sisters, Atlean Hamilton of Chicago, IL., Morease Courtney of Clinton, MD., Juanita Jennings of Fort Wayne, IN., brothers, Adolph Turnage of Fort Wayne, IN., and Irvin Turnage of Memphis, TN., sisters-in-laws; Eunice Adams of Indianapolis, IN., Vernice Turnage and Juanita Turnage, both of Memphis, TN. Alder Turnage of Jonesboro, AR., Edna Turnage of Oxon Hills, MD. A childhood friend, Henry Pitts, Jr., and a host of nieces, nephews, and friends.

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