Clara M. Turner

The Life and Legacy of Clara Mae Fells-Turner
As Remembered By Mekaile and Nena Turner

On September 22, 1933, God saw fit to grace this world with a beautiful baby girl to Arlinous and Annis Fells. She would be named Clara Mae Fells. Mama to us. Born and raised in the small rice farming community of Gillett, Arkansas Clara was a fun-loving and energetic child. My mother and I recall the numerous stories, Mama would tell about her love for playing basketball, softball, and adventures with her beloved dogs Boise, Rowdy, and Frank. Mama was very helpful around the family home cooking, cleaning, sewing, and washing clothes. Mama was also very active in church at a young age. I remember her biggest testimony being when she attended a church revival at the age of nine and made the choice to surrender her life to Christ.
Years later in 1953 Mama and the rest of the family relocated to Kansas City, Kansas her senior year of high school. She attended Sumner High School (now Sumner Academy) where she received a certificate to become a cosmetologist. It was during this time, my great-grandfather pulled a few strings for Mama to work as a Harvey Girl at Fred Harvey’s Restaurant at Union Station in Kansas City, Missouri. The history of Fred Harvey and his chain of hospitality restaurants in Union Stations all over the U.S. is a famous one. Especially the young and attractive Harvey Girl waitresses who were at the time exclusively all white. Mama along with another friend of hers was the only known African American Harvey Girls in Missouri. This would be a role she took pride in for seventeen years at both Union Station and Blue Ridge Mall. Continuing her love for working in the culinary/food industry Mama began working as a cook at First National Bank (now Kansas City Public Library ) from 1972 until she retired as Head Chef/Manager in 1995.
Mama didn’t allow retirement to slow her down. She was into gardening, cooking, cleaning, and making sure we were taken care of. I’ve even watched her during a time when she had to become a caregiver for both my great-grandparents and her baby brother. The dedication and love that she put into her care for them was truly inspiring to me. Mama was the epitome of the kind of woman I wanted to be, beautiful, elegant, caring, and strong. Even in her latter years when she was the one needing us to care for her, she was always willing to give helpful advice, show concern if you were sick, and even take time to sing a beautiful hymn.
Mama now enjoys dancing, singing, and spending time with loved ones who long preceded her. No longer in pain or crying tears, because on July 9th, 2023 God saw fit to call Clara Mae back home.
Clara Mae Fells-Turner is reunited with her parents Arlinous Fells Sr. and Annis Fells. One nephew Eddie Allen. Siblings John Lee Nelson, Arlinous Fells Jr. and sister Bernice Allen. She’s left to cherish her memory of daughter Nena Turner, granddaughter Mekaile Turner, and one uncle Rogers Fells. Five nieces Deborah Cowans, Bernadette Nelson, Sharon (Conrad) McDonald, Patti Hatcher, and Bridgette Todd. Six nephews Johnny W. Allen Jr., Tony Allen Sr., Danny K. Allen, Derrick Allen. 35 great-grandnieces and nephews, and a host of cousins.

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