Regina Turrentine and her husband, the late Dr. James Turrentine, moved to Ardmore in 1977. Since that time Turrentine has become an important member of numerous boards and committees across the city. She’s even helped found some of the organizations and events that are staples in the community today.
Turrentine said her love of volunteer work and contributing to her community dates back to her time growing up in Stigler.
“I think it all started when I was in high school,” she said. “I was in the band which of course wasn’t volunteer work, but we did a lot of volunteering. I was also in the Rainbow Girls which is a Masonic program for girls, and I adored that. It was all about trying to be better than the typical teenager and trying to have some sense. We also had a Teen Town which was very active in the community. It was a lot of fun, and I found it to be very gratifying.”
Upon moving to Ardmore, one of the first organizations she became active in was the YWCA.
“It was formed very early on in the days of Ardmore because the men had several organizations at that time, but there was nothing for women,” Turrentine said. “When I came in, there were a lot of older women who were so encouraging. We did a lot of work, and I got to know so many wonderful women. The work we did was inspiring and contagious which made me want to do more.”
The more came along in the 1980s when Turrentine held found the Ardmore Beautification Council.
“I was working with the Chamber, and we were challenged to pick a project and proceed to work on that whether it was a new project or a standing project,” she said. “At that time, we had heard and seen that there were several places around town that were not very nice. A business had even told the Chamber that they weren’t coming because of the way the city looked.”
The project turned into ABC.
“When we first came together, we had no money,” Turrentine said. “One of our first projects came when a bunch of tulip bulbs weren’t sold one year. We had a group of young ladies, so we all went out and planted them along the highway.”
The group also planted some trees donated by the State of Oklahoma and would do things like go out in groups to pick up trash. This drew the attention of Charles Smith, a wealthy Ardmore resident.
“We got a call one day that said he was very interested in what we were doing,” Turrentine said. “I think he gave us something like $3,000 on a couple occasions.”
Upon his passing, he left ABC a considerable amount of money.
“I will never forget it,” Turrentine said. “I was in Santa Fe and got a call from Dixie (Harper) who said that Mr. Smith had passed and left us some money. She said you’re not going to believe this, but it’s $3.3 million.”
Turrentine is proud of the fact that ABC has not only been able to retain the original sum, but grow it over the years through good investments. Today, they have $4.4 million. And this is after spending money to improve the community.
Through the years, ABC has received recognition on multiple occasions from the state. She shared the first time that happened.
“I know the first state award we won came from Tidy Tiger who was named by my husband, James,” she said with an audible smile. “We had a tiger costume where we would visit all the elementary schools to talk to the kids about litter.
“It’s just been wonderful over the years, and we all enjoy it.”
Another achievement she is proud of is founding the Goddard Center fundraiser Festival of the Trees with Gloria Westheimer. The pair came up with the idea after going to a similar festival in Tulsa.
She laughed as recalled their first event.
“The first year was actually pretty sad,” she said. “We only had a few things, and I think Bruzzy (Westheimer’s) mom bought it all to help us out. But look where we are now, 31 years later.”
