Carolyn Joyce Turnbough

Carolyn Joyce Bradford (neé Gaines) (Mercadel) (Turnbough) (Smith) Turnbough, age 83, of Altadena, California, passed away on Monday, June 12, 2023. Carolyn (Carol) was the second child born to Orell Dick Bradford and Eula Pearl Bradford on September 29, 1939, at Los Angeles County General Hospital, Los Angeles, California. They affectionately nicknamed her "Callie Gal". Carol had one sister, Doris Marie Vann, father O.D., and mother Eula, all who preceded her in death in 1998, 1997, and 1990, respectively.

Carol was a graduate of Jefferson High School in Los Angeles, California. She later attended Los Angeles Metropolitan Business College, and then attended Pasadena College in Pasadena, California, to receive her Associate in Arts Degree in bookkeeping and accounting. She later attended Lowe's of Pasadena School of Interior Design where she received a certificate for interior design. From there Carol attended Pasadena City College to earn a certificate as a travel agent. A few years later Carol attended La Verne School of Law for paralegal studies. Carol was a fashion and photography model for Atwater Agency, in Los Angeles, California. She was later chosen as "Poster Girl" to represent "White Swan Beauty Products". Carol worked eleven years for Universal Money Order Company of Culver City, California, as bookkeeper and office manager. She worked three years for Jet Propulsion Laboratories (JPL), of Pasadena, California, as a tape librarian. She worked five years, part-time as a teacher's aid for Pasadena Unified School District, Pasadena, California. Carol later worked twenty-four years as bookkeeper, accountant, credit manager, and office manager for Vemco Corporation in San Dimas, California. When she had time she also worked part-time as a travel agent for Voyager Travel, in Pasadena, California. Later Carol worked with her then husband, John W. Smith at his law practice in Pasadena, California, but prior to that union, Carol married her high school football hero, Rudy Walbert Mercadel. The union produced one son, Rudy Mercadel. The marriage lasted three years. She later married Reverend Artis Turnbough, one of the founding members of the Grammy Award Winning gospel group; The Mighty Clouds of Joy, who would go on to serve as lead pastor of The Greater New Jerusalem Missionary Baptist Church in Los Angeles, California. Her marriage to Artis produced two children; Victoria Denise Turnbough, and Ricky Medale Turnbough. The marriage lasted twenty-three and a half years. Carol accepted Jesus Christ early in her life. She taught Sunday school, sang with the choir, and was secretary and bookkeeper for her husband Reverend Artis Turnbough of Greater New Jerusalem Baptist Church of Los Angeles. Carol worked in accounting and bookkeeping for forty plus years, until her retirement. Her second husband Reverend Artis Turnbough preceded her in death, on February 5, 1999, but prior to and upon the dissolution of their union, she later met and married attorney John Wesley Smith, and together they joined The Church on the Way in Van Nuys, California. Upon her remarriage to John W. Smith, they ultimately separated, and divorced in January, 2014. She also served as a volunteer for "Women At Work", a job resource center in Pasadena, California. She was also a member of The Altadena Senior Center, joining in 2006, where she made a host of dear friends that would stick close by her up until her death because they loved her so dearly, and longed to see her at the senior center where she always wore her beautiful smile, and offered up daily hugs cheering everyone up. Her hobbies were interior design, decorating, drawing, painting, and gardening. Carol has three children; Her oldest son Rudy is a career professional having served in the United States Air Force as a pilot, her daughter Victoria is a former elementary school teacher, has a career as a professional international recording artist and singer, is editor-in-chief of a national beverage magazine, along with being the Founder and CEO of a spirits company she created, and her youngest son Ricky worked for a law firm in the Los Angeles area and currently works in real estate. Carol leaves behind 3 children; 2 sons, and a daughter, 1 son in law, 2 daughters in law, 7 grandchildren, 9 great-grandchildren, 2 brothers, 2 sisters in law, 3 nephews, great nephews and great nieces, and a host of cousins, second cousins, extended family, friends and neighbors. Carol went home to be with The Lord on June 12, 2023, and will be sadly missed by all who loved her. As per her wishes no funeral services will occur. There will be a private ceremonial scattering of her ashes along the coast of Los Angeles, across the Pacific Ocean, with pink rose petals, as were her mother and sister preceding her. She knew that she was loved by us all, and although we are all heartbroken, we know she is safely resting in eternal peace in the loving arms of Jesus.