Michael Anthony Turner, Senior
40 Years: A Generation in Ministry
Our honoree is a native of Southampton County, Virginia and a product of its public schools. He continued his education at the University of Virginia with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Religious Studies and a Master of Education in Counselor Education. He also earned a Master of Divinity degree from the Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology of Virginia Union University. The Virginia University of Lynchburg bestowed the Doctor of Divinity upon him in 1999 after his five-year stint there as an adjunct professor.
Pastor Turner has served the following pastorates: Mount Paran Church in Elkton(1980-1985); Mount Marine Church in Fishersville(1982 – 1987); Ebenezer Church in Staunton(1985-1999) and Beulah Church in Stuarts Draft(2002 – 2006). He also served as the full-time chaplain of Sussex I State Prison in Waverly from 1999 to 2001. His professional career in counseling has included employment at Woodrow Wilson Rehabilitation Center; Staunton Correctional Center; and Harrisonburg Workforce Center. He retired from Valley Community Services Board as the Judicial Liaison and an Emergency Services Clinician in May, 2014. He returned to Ebenezer Church in Staunton on January 1, 2007 as the interim pastor and subsequently was installed as senior pastor on June 15, 2008.
He was licensed to preach at Rising Star Baptist Church in Branchville on December 5, 1976 and was subsequently ordained at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Charlottesville under the pastorate of the late Dr. Elisha George Hall on December 7, 1980 . He has served the community as a board member of Staunton Public Library, the United Way, and the Staunton Branch, NAACP. He is affiliated with the Ministers’ Alliance of Waynesboro, Staunton, and Augusta County; the Hampton Ministers’ Conference; and the Ministers’, Deacons’, Stewards’ and Laymen’s Union of Virginia and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated. He joyfully taught a number of ministers as the coordinator of the Staunton-Waynesboro Extension of the Evans-Smith Church Leadership Institute co-sponsored by Virginia Union University and the Baptist General Convention of Virginia.
He is the blessed father of Michael Anthony, II and Florin Michaela Turner and on April 23, 2011, he was united in Holy Matrimony with the former Rhonda Jean Fuller. His motto is “With God all things are possible.” His life verse is Philippians 1:21: “For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” Among his favorite hymns are “How Great Thou Art”, “Lord, Keep Me Day by Day”, and “When I See Jesus". Favorite monikers for him are “The Community Pastor” and “Dean of the Preachers in the Valley”.
Ebenezer Baptist Church
Organized
• September, 1878
• At the home of the late Deacon and Mrs. Henry Burke at 428 North Market Street
Charter Members
• Deacon & Mrs. Henry Burke
• Deacon & Mrs. Winston Carter
• Deacon & Mrs. Henry Whiter
• Mr. & Mrs. A. H. Oliver
• Mr. & Mrs. Robert Jones
• Mr. & Mrs. James Jones
• Mrs. Ada Brown
• Miss Emma Wilson
• Mr. George Desper
• Mrs. Patsy Johnson
• Mrs. Ellen Taylor
• Mrs. Hannibal Holmes
• Mr. Melvin Lewis
• Mrs. Cynthia Hemmons
The present site was secured on December 6, 1878. The Annex was built and the church was remodeled in 1907. In 1910, the old church was demolished and the present edifice was erected. In 2011, the Church erected an addition to house the new elevator.
Pastor of Ebenezer
• Rev. Henry Williams, Temporary Leader, 1878
• Rev. Wiley Simpson, 1878 for eight years and nine months
• Rev. Henry, three months
• Rev J. L. Barksdale, short term
• Rev. P. H. Porter, short term
• Rev. D. S. Dean, short term
• Rev. A. A. Galvin, 1897 - 1901
• Rev. R. C. Pannell, June 7, 1902 to 1951 for forty-nine years until his death
• Rev. James Henry Scott, Jr. , January 27, 1952 for twenty-three years and six months
• Rev. Alvin Alphonso Cleveland, July 17, 1977 to September, 1982
• Rev. Charles Edward Jones, December, 1982 to 1984
• Rev. Michael Anthony Turner, July 7, 1985 to August 31, 1999
• Rev. R. Arnett Fugett, 2001 to 2002 for seven months
• Rev. Henry A. Grant, Jr., September 12, 2004 – 2006
• Rev. M. A. Turner, Sr. , January 1, 2007 to Present
Ministries/Auxiliaries of the Church:
• Deacon Ministry
• Trustee Ministry
• Missionary Ministry
• Usher Ministry
• R.C. Pannell Young Ladies Auxiliary
• Praise Dancer’s Ministry
• Sanctuary Choir
• Inspirational Choir
• Health Ministry
• Hospitality
• YLDA Ministry
• Titus 2 Women’s Ministry
• Sunday School Ministry
• Children’s Church Ministry
• Bible Study Ministry