At the age of 14, Alison Turbeville received the last news that any ninth grader would expect to hear. She received a diagnosis of cancer— a brain tumor, to be exact.
From there, she spent the majority of her high school career in and out of the hospital with various treatments. Though her high school career was not how she pictured it, Turbeville never let her illness limit or define her. She was was a model of strength and refused to let the tumor have the last word.
Lifelong friend of Turbeville, sophomore Denver Wilson, said she was a fighter.
“Since she was little, she wanted to compete in every single thing there was, and she won every time she did,” Wilson said. “She fought and never stopped fighting, until the very last inch of her body couldn’t fight it anymore.”
Turbeville’s body stopped fighting Saturday, Sept. 12.
Turbeville’s life is punctuated by accomplishment after accomplishment. Her zeal for life and steady determination were never deterred by her illness. In fact, it seems as if Turbeville succeeded at everything she tried.
To say Turbeville was an incredible athlete would be a major understatement. Even after her diagnosis, she played varsity soccer and was voted a MAIS All Star soccer player. Her athleticism was not confined to one sport. Turbeville led the Jackson Academy track team to multiple titles. She was also a member of the school’s cheerleading squad and Accent dance team. She was involved in various clubs, held multiple leadership positions, and stayed involved in her youth group at Christ United Methodist Church in Jackson.
Turbeville’s tenacious fervor didn’t stop there. She scored a 34 on her ACT and finished high school with a 4.0 GPA. She graduated cum laude and was inducted into the Jackson Academy Hall of Fame. Turbeville received a full ride to Ole Miss alongside an acceptance into the Honors College. Even in the midst of treatment in Jackson, she chose to attend Ole Miss, where she became an active member of Chi Omega while maintaining a 3.9 GPA as an Honors student.
While Turbeville’s life was marked by achievement, these accolades do not paint the whole picture of who she was. More than these feats, friends say she was known for her optimism, love for life, selflessness and sarcastic tongue.
Turbeville’s freshman roommate and close friend Elizabeth Parker reminisced on a time she felt was especially telling of Turbeville’s personality. She said they attended Timber Creek Camp together in grade school for a church retreat. Turbeville, being the competitive person that she was, volunteered herself and Parker for a challenge against the other churches. The challenge was to see which two team members could stuff the most Cheetos in their mouths in one minute.
The timer and the Cheetos started and so did Turbeville’s competitive drive.
“After we stuffed 18 Cheetos, combined, into our mouths we were declared the winners, which made Alison very happy,” Parker said.
“She taught me never to take life too seriously and to always be able to laugh at yourself.”
Parker said the most valuable lesson she learned from her friend was to live life to the fullest. Turbeville refused to do anything half-heartedly. Whether it was schoolwork, a soccer game, a Cheetos competition or fighting a brain tumor, she never settled for second best.
Bruce Sumrall taught Turbeville honors chemistry and psychology in high school. He also went on trips with Turbeville to six different states with the school’s Outdoors Club during her time at Jackson Academy. Sumrall echoed Parker’s sentiments of Turbeville’s way of living life without inhibition.
“Whether we were hiking, rafting, biking, swimming, jumping off waterfalls, having a s’mores cooking contest, or quietly watching a sunset from the top of a mountain, she was all in,” Sumrall said.
“And in-between, she was always ready with a smart-aleck comment or sarcastic remark.”
Although Turbeville was in a position where she could be permitted to feel sorry for herself, she never did.
“I remember well her telling me she was embarrassed that she had been chosen for a Make-A-Wish trip, because she was sure most people did not have all she had,” Sumrall said.
Turbeville’s wish was granted last summer. She was able to attend the U.S. Women’s World Cup in Canada and meet her favorite players on the team.
Turbeville’s passing united the students of Ole Miss in a very tangible way. On Sunday night, the Greek community, with the support of RUF and CRU, came together for a night of worship at the Sigma Nu house. While the night of worship was planned months in advance, the event turned into a partial prayer vigil and commemoration of Turbeville’s life. It is estimated that around 900 students were in attendance.
Various fraternities and sororities have also showed their support by sending gifts to the Chi Omega sorority and by putting black ribbons on their houses. Chi Omega has been extremely affected by the loss of their sister.
Turbeville’s pledge sister, Sophomore Olivia Dear, said this devastating loss has made their chapter stronger.
“Through the loss of our sister, we Chi Omegas have leaned on one another for love and support,” Dear said. “We have chosen to link arms and cling to each other to honor Turbeville and the house that she called home.”
The sorority took buses to Jackson to attend Turbeville’s memorial service together on Tuesday morning as a tribute to Alison and as a measure of support for her older sister Emily Turbeville.
Sorority sister and lifelong friend, Sarah Martin Tucker, Alison’s sister, Emily, and Sumrall spoke in remembrance of Turbeville during the service.
“The pain in the room Tuesday could be felt,” Sumrall said. “So often, we face tragedy, and the memory of the individuals fade as we move on in our daily lives. People who knew Alison will be reminded of her in their everyday actions. They will remember her when they face incredible challenges and either physical or emotional pain. They will remember her, too, when they are enjoying life to the fullest. Her legacy will be that we will be better people for having known her.”
