Corbett Harold Turner

Corbett Harold Turner, M.D., psychiatrist, died in his home on December 24th, 2016 of complications from Parkinson's disease. Those he leaves behind miss him terribly and celebrate his intellect, kindness, and humor. Patients relied on Dr. Turner for professional insight; lawyers, for expert testimony; friends and family, for wisdom, impartial arbitration, perpetual good cheer, and occasional hijinks.

Children, especially, lost a friend in Corbett Turner. He had six of his own and hundreds more as patients, and he knew how to talk to them in a way most adults do not, sometimes for hours. They delighted in his warmth, his understanding, and his ageless sense of fun.

Perhaps he simply never forgot what it was like to be a child. From an early age, Corbett embraced hard work along with boyhood mischief, supplementing his father's modest income splicing wires for AT&T with after-school jobs as a bricklayer, radio host, paperboy, factory foreman, and ham inspector. He studied hard, too; his grades earned him a full scholarship to Cornell University and then Cornell Medical School. He served in the Army as Captain and Chief of Pediatrics at Fort Jay U.S. Army Hospital in Tokyo before completing three residencies and earning board certifications in pediatrics, psychiatry, and child psychiatry at Duke University. He joined the Emory Clinic in 1963, remaining as Associate Professor of Psychiatry until establishing a private practice in 1993. In his long career, Dr. Turner performed autism research at the Yerkes Primate Center, chaired the advisory board to the Autism Foundation of Georgia (CADEF), and helped establish the Emory Autism Center; served on the board of the Georgia Department of Human Resources; was a fellow of the American Psychiatric Association, the American Medical Association, and the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry; was elected to the American College of Psychiatrists; and served as president of the Georgia Psychiatric Physician's Association.

He approached his free time with the same boundless energy, set to a soundtrack of Beethoven and Mahler. There were Appalachian Trail hikes and European vacations, Friday night "cussburger" cookouts and Peachtree Road Races, Falcons games and tennis matches at Cherokee Town & Country Club. There were croquet games on the beach, sailing trips on Lake Lanier, azaleas to prune, Wednesday evenings with a beloved long-time poker group, kids to teach at All Saints' Sunday School, and elaborate April Fool's Day exploits against his perpetually surprised wife. He was a photo buff, logophile, and outspoken advocate for women's and civil rights.

Parkinson's disease finally slowed him down. Corbett faced it with the same equanimity, tenacity, and energy he brought to his career and his hobbies. As he lost his powers of speech and movement, he gave back what he could: advice, smiles, hugs, and — in the end — inspiration. Good night, sweet Corbett, and flights of angels sing you to your rest.

Corbett is preceded in death by his parents, Dora and Corbett Turner, and his brother, Ken. He is survived by his wife of 42 years, Babs Turner; children: Melissa Beavers, Reid Turner, Sarah Hancock (Bill), Doug Turner, Ryan Turner, and David Turner; grandchildren: Grace Hancock, Emma Hancock, William Roseman, and Joceline Turner; brother, John Turner (Carol); sister, Myrna Collier; and sister-in-law, Doris Turner.

The family wishes to thank Corbett's devoted caregivers Kimberly Andrews, Debbie Weekes, Lauren LaPlatte, Kevin Deavers, and Paula Boyd, and his wonderful Weinstein Hospice nurses Julie Hamilton and Connie Caird.

A memorial service will be held at All Saint's Episcopal Church on Wednesday, January 4th at 10:30 AM. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be sent to the Elliott Galloway Scholarship Fund at The Galloway School, to The Westminster Schools in support of financial aid, or to All Saints' Episcopal Church.


Funeral Home:
A. S. Turner & Sons
2773 North Decatur Road
Decatur, GA
30033