Mr. Turner Arant was born in Blaine, Mississippi, on August 17, 1934.  He graduated from Mississippi State University with a Bachelor of Science in Animal Science.  Turner is married to the former Sybil Kirk.  They have one son, Andy, two daughters, Carol and Kathryn Anne, and five grandchildren.

Turner's family has been active in farming in the Mississippi Delta since the early 1930's growing cotton, rice, soybeans, and wheat.  In 1962 he was one of the first to begin the production of catfish in the Mississippi Delta.  In 1982 he received the Farmer of the Year Award from the Catfish Farmers of America.  He received the Mississippi State University Agribusiness Award in production agriculture.  In 1987 he was recognized as Mississippi Farmer of the Year awarded by Mississippi Department of Agriculture and sponsored by Mississippi Satellite Network.  He was recognized by Mississippi State University as Alumnus of the Year for Agriculture.  He is a board member of Community Bank of Mississippi, Farmers Grain Terminal, and Delta Western Catfish Feed Mill.  He served six years on the United States Department of Agriculture Research Board for Agriculture.

Turner is a member of First Methodist Church of Indianola, Mississippi, where he serves as Delegate to Annual Conference and a member of the Finance Committee.  He was elected first as a lay delegate to 2000 and 2004 General Conference from the Mississippi Annual Conference.  He served on General Council of Ministries from 2000 to 2004.  Beginning in 2004, he is serving on the General Board of Global Ministries.  He has served on the South Eastern Jurisdiction Episcopacy from 2000.  He is a member of the Mississippi Methodist Foundation, Mississippi Home For Kids, Wood Institute, Mississippi Baddour Center.  He serves as an assistant Sunday School teacher.  He was instrumental in helping establish North Mississippi Emmaus Community and North Mississippi Christian Camp.  He has been an active Gideon and Rotarian for 30 years.