Kathy Turner Church

Kathy Turner Church, 73, passed peacefully at her daughter’s home in Lexington on Friday, August 28, 2026 surrounded by her family. She was born on June 1, 1953 in Alamance County to the late Russell “R.J.” James Turner and Sarah Kathleen Shoffner Turner, and was the loving wife to Kenneth “Kenny” Church, Sr. of the home.

Kathy retired from Alamance Community College as a Cosmetology Instructor. Before teaching at ACC, she also taught at Leon’s Beauty School and Piedmont Community College. She was a member of Friedens Lutheran Church. Kathy loved horseback riding, especially when it included stopping to grab a funnel cake for her mule blonde. She loved watching her children play sports and show horses. She enjoyed traveling to the beach to sit on the beach all day and then travel to the mountains. In her younger days, she could often be found hanging out at the race track or dancing the night away at the Honky Tonk.

But Kathy’s greatest love was watching her grandchildren do what they loved. Whatever sport or activity they were involved in, Kathy was their biggest cheerleader. She made sure they could always see her in the stands or on the sidelines, proudly cheering them on. She never missed an opportunity to support them and celebrate their accomplishments. After retirement, Kathy often said that her life was devoted to her grandchildren—and she meant every word. They were truly the apple of her eye, her greatest joy, and her greatest accomplishment. Her family was her world, and the love she gave them will remain one of her most treasured legacies. Kathy enjoyed horseback riding, watching all kinds of sports and traveling to the beach and the mountains. Most of all she enjoyed spending time with her loving family and especially her adorable grandchildren. They were definitely the apple of her eye and her greatest joy and accomplishment was her family.

Survivors other than her husband of 34 years, Kenneth “Kenny” Church, Sr. include her devoted children, Page Keck and his wife Emily, and Katie Kennedy and her husband Michael; her grandchildren she adored; Triston Keck, Ella Keck, Adalyn Kennedy, Clayton Kennedy; step sons, Kenneth “Kenny” Church, Jr. and his wife Kristie and Gary Church; her step grandchildren, Brandon Church, Breanna Church, Emily Sneed, Anna Church, Tyrus Martin, Kayleigh Poindexter and Kennedy Church; and her step great granddaughters, Vivian Leigh Funtes and Kimmie Walker; a brother, William “Bill” Turner; several nieces and nephews.

Kathy was preceded in death by her parents, R.J. Turner and Kathleen Turner; a brother, Jimmy Turner and a step-son, Scotty Church.

The funeral service to celebrate Kathy’s life will be held at 4:00PM Thursday, September 3, 2026 at Lowe Funeral Home Chapel by Pastor Rick Church with the burial to follow at Friedens Lutheran Church Cemetery. The family will receive friend from 6:00PM to 8:00PM Wednesday evening at the funeral home.

Memorials may be made to Alamance Community College, Cosmetology Department, 1247 Jimmie Kerr Rd., Graham, NC 27253 or to AuthoraCare Collective Hospice, 914 Chapel Hill Road, Burlington, NC 27215.