A longtime public servant, Turner was Houston’s 62nd mayor from 2016 to 2024 earlier than being elected to signify Texas’ 18th Congressional District in 2024.
HOUSTON — Houstonians are honoring U.S. Congressman Sylvester Turner on Tuesday at Metropolis Corridor, the place his physique lies in state, permitting the general public to pay their respects to the previous mayor.
Turner, 70, died on March 5 at his house in Washington, D.C., from what his household described as “enduring well being problems.” He had attended President Donald Trump’s joint tackle to Congress simply the evening earlier than and was briefly hospitalized earlier than being launched.
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COMPLETE COVERAGE: Remembering Sylvester Turner
A longtime public servant, Turner served within the Texas Home of Representatives for a few years earlier than he was elected Houston’s 62nd mayor and served from 2016 to 2024. Voters selected Turner to signify Texas’s 18th Home Congressional District in 2024 to exchange his longtime good friend, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee. She died final July after a battle with pancreatic most cancers.
Throughout Turner’s tenure as mayor, he led Houston by way of pure disasters, together with Hurricane Harvey, main infrastructure reforms, and financial revitalization efforts.
Linda Toyota, Former president of the Asian Chamber of Commerce and the primary Asian girl to chair Management Houston, was one of many first individuals in line Tuesday morning at 7 a.m. She described Turner as a “individuals’s particular person” who deeply cared about Houstonians.
“Simply being in the neighborhood, he was all the time an advocate whether or not it was for the Asian Chamber, for the Rodeo, for different non-profit organizations,” Toyota informed KHOU 11.
She had an opportunity to speak with Turner on the Rodeo Parade a couple of days earlier than he handed away. Earlier than that, she noticed him “dancing away, like he would, and simply reaching out to individuals” at one other occasion a few weeks in the past.
“Approachable, relatedly, caring, and he was simply simple to speak to, no matter whether or not you agree or disagree, he was actually open to that and really useful,” Toyota stated.
When & the place to pay respects
Public viewing at Houston Metropolis Corridor
Date: Tuesday, March 11, 2025
Time: 9 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Location: Houston Metropolis Corridor – Rotunda, 901 Bagby Road, Houston, TX
Metropolis officers invite members of the general public to signal the guide of condolence on the entrance to Metropolis Corridor. They then ask that guests don’t cease within the rotunda to speak, take pictures, or video in order that the road continues to maneuver immediately.
Following the Houston memorial, Turner’s physique will likely be transported to Austin, the place he’ll lie in honor on the Texas State Capitol from Thursday, March 13, at midday, by way of Friday, March 14, at midday.
His funeral service, officiated by Dr. Ralph West, will likely be held on Saturday, March 15, at The Church With out Partitions in Houston. A non-public burial will observe.
Funeral service and closing farewell
Date: Saturday, March 15, 2025
Time: 1 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Location: The Church With out Partitions, 5725 Queenston Blvd., Houston, TX
Officiant: Dr. Ralph West
A non-public burial will observe.
How Houston is honoring his legacy
The Turner household asks attendees to put on blue in honor of his legacy and requests donations to the College of Texas MD Anderson Most cancers Middle or a charity of alternative as a substitute of flowers.
Extra protection on Turner’s passing
A profession that formed the town
Turner’s impression as a devoted public servant, neighborhood advocate, and trailblazing chief will likely be honored all through the week as Houston and Texas have fun his life and legacy.
Turner represented Texas’s 18th Congressional District, a traditionally important seat as soon as held by civil rights icons equivalent to Barbara Jordan, Mickey Leland, Craig Washington and Sheila Jackson Lee. Following of their footsteps, Turner was dedicated to advancing the district’s legacy of justice, fairness, and transformative public service.
Who was Sylvester Turner?
A lifelong Houstonian, Turner was born and raised within the Acres Properties neighborhood. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in political science from the College of Houston earlier than acquiring a Juris Physician from Harvard Legislation College. His authorized profession started at Fulbright & Jaworski, the place he labored as a trial lawyer earlier than co-founding Barnes & Turner, a outstanding regulation agency specializing in industrial and private damage litigation.
Turner served 27 years within the Texas Home of Representatives, representing District 139. A bipartisan chief, he spent 21 years on the Home Appropriations Committee and 6 years as Speaker Professional Tem, enjoying a key position in shaping the state’s fiscal coverage.
In 2015, Turner was elected the 62nd Mayor of Houston and was re-elected in 2019. His tenure was marked by important challenges, together with seven federally declared pure disasters, equivalent to Hurricane Harvey and the COVID-19 pandemic. He led the town by way of advanced pension reforms, decreasing monetary liabilities by billions, and championed initiatives to enhance public security, environmental sustainability, and financial alternative.
Turner launched Houston’s first Local weather Motion Plan, committing the town to carbon neutrality by 2050 and reinforcing its position in international vitality management. He chaired the International Resilient Cities Community and served as Chair of U.S. Local weather Mayors, increasing Houston’s affect in local weather coverage and concrete resilience.
Public security was a precedence underneath Turner’s One Secure Houston initiative, which addressed violent crime and psychological well being providers. He additionally centered on quality-of-life enhancements by way of One Clear Houston, concentrating on unlawful dumping, and Full Communities, a public-private effort to revitalize traditionally underserved neighborhoods. His Rent Houston Youth program offered over 20,000 jobs to younger adults, selling financial mobility.
Nationally, Turner served as Chair of the African American Mayors Affiliation and was a Trustee of the U.S. Convention of Mayors, additional establishing his position as a number one voice in city coverage and governance.
Turner was a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., and continued to reside in Acres Properties. He was the proud father of 1 daughter and grandfather of 1 grandson.
