OTTIS BREWER (O. B.) TURNER

THIS MEMBER WAS BORN ON JUNE 10, 1906 AND LABORED IN THE VINEYARDS OF MASONRY FOR MORE THAN SIXTY YEARS WITHOUT THE HOPE OF FEE OR REWARD. IT WAS PRIMARILY THROUGH HIS UNTIRING EFFORTS THAT WE HAVE THE YORK RITE BODIES IN GRIFFIN TODAY AND ARE ABLE TO SHARE IN THE SUCCESSES OF THESE BODIES OVER THE LAST FIFTY YEARS OR SO.

HE RECEIVED THE ENTERED APPRENTICE DEGREE ON JULY 26, 1938, WAS PASSED

TO THE FELLOW CRAFT DEGREE ON AUGUST 23, 1938, AND WAS RAISED ON

SEPTEMBER 13, 1938 IN GRIFFIN LODGE #413. HE SERVED AS WORSHIPFUL MASTER IN 1942 AND AS WORSHIPFUL MASTER OF THE SIXTH DISTRICT MASONIC CONVENTION IN 1951. HE SERVED AS A DISTRICT DEPUTY TO THE GRAND MASTER IN 1971.

HE AFFILIATED WITH MERIDIAN SUN LODGE #26 ON SEPTEMBER 18, 1973 AND SERVED AS WORSHIPFUL MASTER IN 1979. HE SERVED AS GRAND TYLER OF THE GRAND LODGE OF GEORGIA FROM OCTOBER 24, 1979 TO OCTOBER 28, 1980. HE WAS THE GRAND LODGE REPRESENTATIVE TO THE GRAND LODGE OF ONTARIO, CANADA. HE RECEIVED HIS 50 YEAR MEMBERSHIP AWARD ON SEPTEMBER 20, 1988.

HE WAS EXALTED TO THE ROYAL ARCH DEGREE IN PYTHAGORAS CHAPTER #10 ON JULY 15, 1943 AND SERVED AS HIGH PRIEST IN 1946. HE SERVED FOR SIXTEEN YEARS AS THE DISTRICT DEPUTY TO THE GRAND HIGH PRIEST (1946‑1962). IN 1952, HE WAS THE FIRST GEORGIA RECIPIENT OF THE GENERAL GRAND CHAPTER DISTINGUISHED SERVICE MEDAL. HE SERVED AS HIGH PRIEST OF THE SIXTH DISTRICT ROYAL ARCH CONVENTION IN 1953. HE WAS THE GRAND CHAPTER REPRESENTATIVE TO OREGON. HE RECEIVED HIS 50 YEAR MEMBERSHIP AWARD ON JULY 8, 1993.

HE WAS GREETED AS A SELECT MASTER ON APRIL 5, 1944 IN GRIFFIN COUNCIL # 8 AND SERVED AS ILLUSTRIOUS MASTER IN 1946. HE WAS ELECTED TO THE GRAND COUNCIL LINE IN 1957 AND ON APRIL 18, 1962 HE WAS ELECTED MOST ILLUSTRIOUS GRAND MASTER OF THE GRAND COUNCIL OF ROYAL AND SELECT MASTERS IN GEORGIA. HE WAS THE GRAND COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVE TO SOUTH DAKOTA. HE RECEIVED HIS 50 YEAR MEMBERSHIP AWARD AT THE GRAND COUNCIL SESSION ON APRIL 18, 1994.

HE RECEIVED BOTH THE ORDER OF HIGH PRIESTHOOD AND THE ORDER OF THE

SILVER TROWEL IN 1946.

HE WAS KNIGHTED IN ALEXIUS COMMANDERY #22 IN JACKSON, GEORGIA ON

FEBRUARY 4, 1944. HE WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN GETTING GRIFFIN COMMANDERY

#28 RECHARTERED ON MAY 9, 1945 AS GRIFFIN COMMANDERY #35. HE BECAME A

CHARTER MEMBER AT THE COMMANDERY RECONSTITUTION ON MAY 18, 1945. HE SERVED AS COMMANDER FROM 1946 TO 1948. HE SERVED FOR MANY YEARS AS THE LOCAL CHAIRMAN OF THE KNIGHTS TEMPLAR ANNUAL VOLUNTARY EYE CAMPAIGN AND ALONG WITH HIS WIFE "MISS BECKY", RAISED MANY THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS FOR THIS WORTHWHILE CHARITY. HE WAS THE CASE WORKER IN THIS AREA FOR THOSE PERSONS WHO NEEDED ASSISTANCE FROM THE EYE FOUNDATION. HE RECEIVED HIS 50 YEAR AWARD ON FEBRUARY 3, 1994.

IN RECOGNITION OF HIS MANY YEARS OF WORK IN THE COMMANDERY AND THE EYE FOUNDATION, HE WAS ON MAY 10, 1989, AWARDED THE KNIGHT TEMPLAR CROSS OF HONOR. THIS AWARD IS GIVEN ANNUALLY TO ONE SIR KNIGHT IN EACH STATE BY THE GRAND ENCAMPMENT OF KNIGHTS TEMPLAR OF THE USA. HE SERVED ON THE JURISPRUDENCE COMMITTEE OF THE GRAND COMMANDERY OF GEORGIA FOR MANY YEARS. HE WAS THE GRAND COMMANDERY REPRESENTATIVE TO NEBRASKA.

HE WAS ELECTED TO MEMBERSHIP IN GEORGIA PRIORY #39, KNIGHTS OF THE YORK CROSS OF HONOUR, AND WAS KNIGHTED ON OCTOBER 15, 1948 AS THE 26TH MEMBER OF THE PRIORY. THE PRIORY WAS PRESENTED ITS CHARTER AT THAT MEETING. HE RECEIVED THE SECOND 50 YEAR KYCH AWARD EVER PRESENTED IN GEORGIA IN JANUARY, 1999.

HE DIED ON FEBRUARY 10, 1999 AND WAS BURIED IN THE NEW SECTION OF OAK HILL CEMETERY, SEC D, BLK 2, LOT 184.