The late Sylvester Turner, who was Houston’s mayor from 2016 to 2024, will be honored this week in the community where he was raised and served throughout his long and decorated career.
Opportunities for the public to pay respects to Turner — who is credited with leading the city through natural disasters, economic downturns and a global pandemic — begin Tuesday.
Turner died March 5 in Washington, D.C., after attending President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address. He was 70 years old and had recently taken office as a U.S. Congressman serving the 18th district of Texas.
Houston residents are invited to pay their respects Tuesday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Houston City Hall rotunda, 901 Bagby, where Turner will lie in state. The Congressman will then lie in state at the Capitol in Austin, with visitation from noon Thursday until noon Friday.
The funeral service will be from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Saturday, March 15, at The Church Without Walls, 5725 Queenston in Houston, with Dr. Ralph West officiating. A reception will follow, but the burial will be private. Turner’s family asked that guests RSVP if they are planning to attend the funeral service. It will also be streamed online.
In lieu of flowers, guests are asked to consider making a donation to the Greater North Houston Youth Alliance to fund Sylvester Turner Family Day in the Park. Those who wish to mail condolences to the family may direct them to Turner Family, P.O. Box 56386, Houston, TX 77256.
Turner was born in Acres Homes, considered to be the largest unincorporated African American community in the southern United States, according to his obituary. His mother Ruby Mae was a maid at Houston’s Rice Motel and his father worked as a painter for Continental Ensco. On weekends, Turner and his brothers helped their father with yard work for extra money.
“Sylvester was raised in a two-bedroom house in Acres Home with eight brothers and sisters,” according to the obituary. “He lost his father to cancer when he was 13 years old. He often referred to his mother as the CEO of the Turner household, and to her frequent advice: ‘Work hard, and tomorrow will be better than today.’”
Turner graduated as valedictorian of Klein High School in 1973 and earned degrees from the University of Houston and Harvard Law School. He co-founded the Houston law firm Barnes & Turner. Prior to his election as Houston mayor, Turner served 13 terms representing House District 139 in the Texas House of Representatives.
Political experts have predicted that Texas Gov. Greg Abbott will call a special election in May for Turner’s congressional seat.
