Patricia Louise Donaldson Turner, age 84, of West Haven, passed away peacefully on December 24, 2025. She was the beloved wife of Richard E. Turner, Sr.
Born on September 1, 1941, in Stuttgart, Arkansas, Patricia was the daughter of the late James Henry Donaldson and Bernice Price Donaldson. Throughout her professional life, she served in various roles, earning the respect and admiration of all who knew her, particularly through her work as an educator and servant of Immanuel Baptist Church.
Patricia devoted her life to faith, service, and education. A lifelong educator, she spent decades nurturing and guiding young minds, beginning at St. Thomas Day School and later continuing her career within the West Haven Public Schools. She was deeply committed to the success of children both inside and outside the classroom and was an active and dedicated member of the West Haven PTA, where she worked tirelessly to support students, families, and teachers. Her passion for education was not merely a profession, but a calling that left a lasting impact on generations of students and the broader community.
A longtime and faithful member of Immanuel Missionary Baptist Church in New Haven, Patricia served diligently as a deacon and remained steadfast in her commitment to her church family. She was also one of the founders of the church's Debutante Pageant, helping to establish a meaningful tradition that uplifted young women, and men through faith, scholarship, and community service. In addition, she was a proud member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and further demonstrated her devotion to public service through her role on the West Haven Board of Education.
In addition to her husband, Patricia leaves to cherish her memory, her loving children: Traci Turner Fairfax and her husband, Carl Fairfax, Jr.; Richard E. Turner, Jr.; Earnest Troy Turner; and Matt D. Turner and his wife, Quiara Turner. She is also survived by her sister, Ellen D. Doram; twenty grandchildren; eleven great-grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, extended family members, and dear friends.
She was predeceased by her brothers, William H. Donaldson and John H. Donaldson, and her sisters, Barbara D. Simmons and Sarah Thomas Greaux.
A graveside service will be held on Thursday, January 8, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at Beaverdale Memorial Park, 90 Pine Rock Avenue, New Haven. A Celebration of Life service will follow at 12:00 p.m. at Immanuel Missionary Baptist Church, 1324 Chapel Street, New Haven.
Patricia Louise Donaldson Turner will be remembered for her unwavering faith, her lifelong commitment to education, and her tireless service to family and community. Her legacy lives on in the countless lives she shaped, the values she instilled, and the love she so generously shared.
