Elsa Heckendorf Turner of Rock Hill, SC, passed away on Sunday, November 16, 2025. The daughter of Edward August Heckendorf and Elsie Fuenfgelt Heckendorf, she was born in Chicago, IL in 1936 and later moved to Sarasota, FL. She is preceded in death by her husband, Roy Turner, an infant son, Mark, and a sister, Lorraine Montgomery. Survivors include her son John Turner (Theresa), daughter Joyce, son Allen Turner (Gulden), and grandchildren Hannah (Anthony) Dahkoshay, and Brice Turner, of Scottsdale, AZ, and Elif Turner of Fort Collins, CO.
She was an active visual artist and a performing member of the Sailor Circus at Sarasota High. After graduation from Florida State University, she met her future husband at an art show. The couple moved to Rock Hill, SC where Elsa built her career and tended to her family. She taught at The Catawba School, now Westminster Catawba Christian school, and earned an MFA from Winthrop University. She served on the SC Arts Commission, was a member of the Leroys art group, and maintained a studio at the Arts Council of York County. Much of her art reflects her love of nature. Family trips to the southwest and the SC coast provided inspiration for many of her award-winning artworks. She had a wonderful sense of humor and will be greatly missed by her family and friends.
Memorials can be made to the Arts Council of York County at https://www.yorkcountyarts.org/donate.
A visitation will be held at the Greene Funeral Home Northwest Chapel on Thursday November 20, 2025 from 2:00-3:00pm. A graveside service will follow at Forest Hills Cemetery in Rock Hill, SC.