From the 1938 centennial edition of The Times-Register
Born at Hollins College November 21, 1875, the son of Joseph A. Turner and Leila Cocke Turner was J. A. Turner, who died October 21, 1937. His mother was the eldest daughter of the late Charles Lewis Cocke, founder of Hollins College.
Mr. Turner was educated at Alleghany Institute, in Roanoke, Richmond College, and the University of Virginia. He taught at Alleghany Institute in 1897 and 1898, prior to becoming assistant business manager of Hollins, College in 1898. In 1900 he became business manager, which post he filled until his death. he was also secretary of the Hollins College Board of Trustees and in 1927 supervised the Hollins College endowment campaign.
Historian
He was prominent in Rotary, being an ex-president of the Roanoke club and ex-chairman of the international committee on Rotary education, as well as former district governor for Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina. He was a charter member of the Southwest Virginia Historical Society and president since its beginning. A contributor of historical articles to the William and Mary Quarterly and to local papers, he made addresses before numbers of organization on subjects of interest i the history of this section of Virginia. Last year he was president of the local chapter of the Archaeological Institute of America, now names the Joseph A. Turner Chapter in his memory.
- P. I. Certificate
Virginia Polytechnic Institute awarded him a certificate of merit “for promoting the development of agriculture in the state of Virginia,” and he served on the Board of Visitors of this institute for a number or years. He was president several times of the State Farmers Institute, the State Dairyman’s Association, and the Holstein-Friesian Club, and made frequent contributions to the publications of these associations and to other farm journals.
During the World War he was district chairman for the Liberty Bon and Savings Stamp campaign.
Mr. Turner was among the first leaders in the campaign for good roads in Virginia, and was actively engaged for a number of years in the building of good roads in Roanoke County. He was chairman of the building campaign for the Roanoke Y. W. C. A. and has been chairman of the county community fund. He gave his support to Enon Baptist Church for many years.
In the County Public Health work, he was especially active, and took a deep interest in “Merch House” for the indigent sick.
Other associations of which Mr. Turner was a member are the Colonade Club of the University of Virginia, Kappa Alpha Fraternity, and the Association of University and College Business Officers of the Eastern States.
– Prepared by Lingjie Gu
