James W. Word II and his wife Lisa started this fund in honor of the parents of their close friend William L. “Bill” Turner, William Nave and Mary Ann Putman Turner. Mr. Turner was born in Clarksburg, graduated from Greenbrier Military School in 1945 and attended WVU. He served in the United States Army stationed in Germany and upon his honorable discharge returned to Beckley where he and Mary Ann raised their three children. He had a long and successful career in the mining industry. Additionally, he served 41 years as a Beckley-Raleigh County Convention Center Board member. Mary Ann graduated from Woodrow Wilson HS in 1945 and attended West Virginia University where she received her English and Education degree. Throughout their lives Bill and Mary Ann were active members of The First Christian Church and enthusiastically served in a number of other community organizations. This discretionary fund income is used as the Distributions Committee identifies emerging needs and projects through community grant process.
