SR1110 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR1110 LRB103 41017 MST 74142 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Evangelist Sammie M. Turner; and

WHEREAS, Evangelist Turner was born in Shaw, Mississippi to Queen Victoria Sellas and Willie Apperton on September 4, 1936; she was baptized at Parker Chapel A.M.E. Church; she received her education at McEvans Elementary School and attended high school in Shaw, Mississippi, where she played on the basketball team; she married Walter C. Turner Jr.; and

WHEREAS, Evangelist Turner moved to Chicago in 1958; she continued her education at Loop Junior College and then enrolled at the Moody Bible Institute; she received her bachelor's degree in religious education from the GMOR Theological Institute of America in August 2003; and

WHEREAS, Evangelist Turner retired from the City of Chicago Park District, where she served as supervisor and director of senior citizens at Seward Park; and

WHEREAS, Evangelist Turner joined Stranger Home M.B. Church when she moved to Chicago and later moved her membership to Union M.B. Church in 1959; she served with the missions visiting nursing homes, prisons, and those in need; she served with the beautifying committee and wherever she was needed until her husband became pastor at Greater Faith M.B. Church in 1984; she continued to help wherever she could as first lady of Greater Faith M.B. Church; after the retirement of her husband as a pastor, they joined New Spiritual Light M.B. Church, under the leadership of her son, Rev. Dr. Walter P. Turner III; and

WHEREAS, Evangelist Turner was active with the national, district, and state conventions; she served as field mission worker, a Bible teacher for the state and district, and as president, secretary, and treasurer of the Baptist Wives of Chicago Vicinity; she was a Bible teacher at the Renaissance Nursing Home for over five years and ministered in the Bahamas; and

WHEREAS, Evangelist Turner enjoyed following sports, especially tennis and the Chicago Bulls; and

WHEREAS, Evangelist Turner was preceded in death by her husband, Walter; her son, Clinton; her grandson, Kenneth Jr.; her parents; her brother, Willie Jr.; and her sister, Josephine; and

WHEREAS, Evangelist Turner is survived by her children, Mamie (Raybon), Pastor Walter (Lynne), Charnell, Arnetta (Terry), and Kenneth; her cousin/son, Jerome (Samella); 17 great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren; her nieces, Vickie and Linda; her nephews, Wayne, Michael, Paul, Daryl, and Steven; her special cousins, Jazie Bell (Willie) and Anna Belle Williams; her God-daughters, Pamela Crawford, Ebony Woodard, and April Woodard; her special God-daughter, Shannon Smith; her chosen daughter, Cynthia Taylor; her spiritual daughter, Wylinda Williams; her special cousins, Samella Hargro, Dr. Yvonne Gillie-Wallace, and Barbara and Barry Thomas; her guardian angels, Tamika Williams and Sylvia Witt; her One Hundred and Eighth Place Crew, Diane, Steve, Jenny, Bonita, and Jerry; and numerous other nieces, nephews, cousins, relatives, friends, and more; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Evangelist Sammie M. Turner and extend our sincere condolences to her family, friends, and all who knew and loved her; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Evangelist Sammie M. Turner as an expression of our deepest sympathy.