M∴W∴Thomas “Tommy” L. Turlington, Jr., was born in Newport News, Virginia,
on January 21, 1951. He attended public schools in Hampton, Virginia, where
he graduated from Pembroke High School in 1970. Immediately following
graduation M∴W∴Turlington started employment with Virginia Electric and
Power Company where he worked many areas of the company beginning in the
line crew and advancing to the Yorktown Power Plant where he started in the
Operation’s Department as a High-Pressure Auxiliary Operator, was promoted
to Assistant Control Room Operator, then to Control Room Operator, Assistant
Shift Supervisor, and then promoted to Shift Supervisor. During his
twenty-five years with the company over seventeen years was in management.
In 1997 after retiring from the company, M∴W∴Turlington moved to Florida and
began working for Halifax Medical Center in the Maintenance Department as a
Plant Operator and was promoted to Lead Mechanic. In 2001 M∴W∴Turlington was
offered a position with Halifax Health Hospice to manage and grow the
organization’s Resale Shop Division. M∴W∴Turlington was the only paid
employee to manage the Resale Division’s one store that was making $1,500
per month with a staff of 20 Volunteers. Within five years M∴W∴Turlington
was promoted to Operations Manager of the Resale Division Department and
grew the department from one to five stores with an increase of 250
Volunteers and 27 paid employees. The income of the five stores grew to over
2.5 million dollars in annual sales. He was employed for over nineteen years
of which he was in management for over ten of those years. He retired on
April 1, 2016.
M∴W∴Turlington and his lovely wife Sandy have been married for 36 years and
have two children, eight grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.
M∴W∴Turlington received the Three Symbolic Degrees of Freemasonry as a
member of Botetourt Lodge No. 7, A.F.&A.M., in Gloucester, Virginia in
1988, where he served as Worshipful Master of the Lodge in 1993 and 1995.
M∴W∴Turlington was a member of Urbanna Royal Arch Chapter No. 59, R.A.M,
where he served as Excellent High Priest in 1995 and received his Anointed
High Priest and Trice Illustrious Master in 1995. He became a member of the
Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry at the Valley of Newport
News, Orient of Virginia, in 1991 and served as District 11 Blood
Coordinator Committeeman from 1990 through 1993.
M∴W∴Turlington became a member at Landmark Lodge No. 383, F. & A.M., in
2007where he served as Worshipful Master in 2011. In 2012, he transferred
his membership from Landmark Lodge No 383 to Sanford Lodge No. 62. He served
as District 16 Masonic Leadership Training Committeeman in 2010 and 2011. In
2012 he was appointed Zone 5 MLT Chairman by M∴W∴ Jorge L. Aladro; in 2013
was appointed District Deputy Grand Master of the 16th Masonic District by
M∴W∴ Danny R. Griffith; in 2014 was appointed District Instructor of the
16th Masonic District by M∴W∴ James W. Ford, and in 2015 was appointed W∴
Grand Marshal by M∴W∴ Steven P. Boring. M∴W∴Turlington was given the
appointment as the Grand Representative to Prince Edward Island for The
Grand Lodge of Florida in 2016.
M∴W∴Turlington was elected to the Office of Junior Grand Warden on May 29,
2017, Senior Grand Warden on May 28, 2018, and Deputy Grand Master on May
27, 2019. He was elected Most Worshipful Grand Master at the 191st Annual
Grand Communication and installed as Grand Master on May 27, 2020.
M∴W∴Turlington belongs to the following Appendant Bodies: Deltona Chapter
No. 326, Order of Eastern Star, Past Worthy Patron in 2011 and 2012;
Shriners International; Bahia Shriners; Sanford York Rite Bodies, Monroe
Chapter No. 15, Sanford Council No.20, where he served as Illustrious Master
in 2019, and Taylor Commandery where he served as Eminent Commander in 2016
and 2019; received Knight Crusaders of the Cross Degree in 2017; Knight
Masons, Space Coast Council No. 32; the Grand Council Allied Masonic
Degrees, Council No. 423; Legion of Honor recipient in the Order of DeMolay
in 2017; 32° KCCH Scottish Rite Mason of the Valley of Orlando;M.O.V.P.E.R.
Grottoes of North America, Zangi Grotto; and Tall Cedars of Lebanon,
Seminole Forest No. 193 in DeLand, Fl.
In his spare time M∴W∴Turlington enjoys playing golf, going on cruises,
going to theme parks, camping, and shooting firearms.