Betty Jean Turner was born on August 12, 1944, in Metter, Georgia, to Willie Pearl and H.S. Turner. The Turner family eventually migrated north and settled in Penns Grove, New Jersey, where Betty received her formal education. Later, she moved to Camden, New Jersey, where she held various jobs. In the late 1980s and 1990s, she worked at the Woodland Care Nursing Home on Linden Street in North Camden.
Known to her many friends as “Bet” and “B.T.,” Betty loved music and dancing. She was a well-known figure in the Kaighnsville neighborhood of Camden, where she enjoyed partying and socializing. She frequented places like Ye Olde Tymers Club on South 5th Street, The Red Carpet Lounge on Broadway, and Krystal Lounge at South 8th and Chestnut Streets, all within walking distance from her home in the 700 block of Mount Vernon Street, where she lived alone in the mid-1990s.
In May 1997, Betty suffered a stroke while home alone. She was not found for over 24 hours and was rushed to Cooper Hospital. Despite a valiant struggle, she passed away on May 14, 1997.
In her last years, Betty became a fan of Irish singer Van Morrison, particularly his song “Into The Mystic.” Beneath her party-loving exterior, Betty was a sensitive person who sometimes felt deeply. Despite the challenges she faced, she remained a good friend to many. Her impact on and importance to those who knew her ensure she is well remembered today, perhaps more so than many of her contemporaries.
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Betty Jean Turner
Betty Jean Turner was born on August 12, 1944, in Metter, Georgia, to Willie Pearl and H.S. Turner. The Turner family eventually migrated north and settled in Penns Grove, New Jersey, where Betty received her formal education. Later, she moved to Camden, New Jersey, where she held various jobs. In the late 1980s and 1990s,…
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