A Special Kind of Kindness
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Hill Country Living
By Coulter Fussell
Like all of Water Valley, I was saddened to hear of the passing of Binford Turnage of Turnage Drug Store. What can be said about “Mr. Binnie” that the whole town doesn’t already feel and know? Plain and simple, he was a good person. As a matter of fact, it could very well be argued that he was the best person!
In every interaction with Mr. Binnie, his personal kindness made one feel special. One of the distinguishing characteristics of Mr. Binnie’s goodness was his democracy in its display. But Mr. Binnie’s most incredible feat was that one knew he was equally kind to everyone he encountered, yet somehow — inexplicably — thisequality with others in the eyes of Mr. Binnie made one feel even more distinguished and special.
It was always a very personal interaction when Mr. Binnie handed you the little yellow card that said, “Smile! God loves you and I love you!” — but you felt even more special knowing that he had a stack of identical little yellow cards in his jacket pocket just waiting for the next person to come along. How did he pull that off? Where did that special brand of across-the-board, equal-opportunity kindness and care come from? I know what his answer to those questions would be!
This town is incredibly lucky to have a multi-generational business. All of the native Water Valley families have relationships with Turnage Drug Store that go back many decades and generations. Personally, Turnage Drug Store has filled every prescription for me and my children for the past 25 years. They also very patiently gave my oldest son his first job, wiping down counters and mixing milkshakes as a soda jerk. Immediately — as in his first day on the job — he was welcomed as part of the Turnage Drug Store family and appeared in a drug store “family” picture on Facebook. I appreciate generations of young kids having a first boss who truly cares for them; it’s an incredible example to set and a high bar for future employers.
Turnage Drug Store is the bedrock of Water Valley, and Binnie Turnage was the bedrock of Turnage Drug Store. His personality and spiritual presence will continue to live in this town, and we are lucky to have Bobby and Karen and family as his prepared, caring and trustworthy legacies.
The last interaction I had with Mr. Binnie was a good while back. I had gone into the drugstore for my prescription. When I got to the counter, I realized that I didn’t have any money on me. I told Monica that I would just run home real quick and grab some cash. I live about 50 yards from the drug store. It would have taken me all of three minutes.
Mr. Binnie, who had been quietly working away behind the counter, looked down at us and said, “Hold on a minute…” He reached in his pocket. Instead of pulling out a little yellow card, this time he pulled out some folding money and paid for my prescription.
Smile! God loves you and so does Mr. Binnie.
