Sylvester Turner funeral held in Houston on Saturday
HOUSTON - A celebration of life service will be held for former Congressman and Houston mayor Sylvester Turner on Saturday.
Rep. Turner's funeral service will be open to the public at the Church Without Walls in Houston.
Sylvester Turner funeral service
Timeline:
A processional with family and clergy will begin at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday.
The service will be held from 1 to 2:30 p.m.
Pastor Ralph West will be officiating the service, and gospel artists Yolanda Adams, V. Michael McKay and Treva Jones are expected to perform.
A reception will begin immediately after the service.
The family will attend a private burial service.
"A life member of Alpha Phi Alpha": Sylvester Turner's fraternity brothers remember his legacy
In 1987, a young Sylvester Turner knocked on the door of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity’s Houston chapter, seeking membership. FOX 26's DaLaun Dillard spoke with fraternity brothers who knew the late congressman well.
Sylvester Turner funeral service speakers
Prominent leaders and loved ones are expected to speak at Rep. Turner's celebration of life ceremony.
Here are the confirmed speakers:
- House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries
- Commissioner Rodney Ellis
- Ashley Turner Captain (Rep. Turner's daughter)
- Various local ministers
Sylvester Turner's Death
What we know:
Turner's family said he was taken to the hospital after attending President Donald Trump's speech to Congress on March 4, 2025. He was then released from the hospital.
Around 5:45 a.m. the next morning, he died at home from "enduring health complications," his family said.
What we don't know:
His cause of death is not known at this time. He has battled cancer in the past. In 2022, he announced that he was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma, a form of bone cancer in his jaw, and received treatment.
Sylvester Turner’s long legacy in Houston
Remembering Rep. Sylvester Turner: Former State Rep. Jarvis Johnson on his predecessor's impact
Former State Rep. Jarvis Johnson became a representative for District 139 - a part of northwestern Houston - after Rep. Turner served in the position for over 25 years. Rep. Johnson shares what he learned from his late predecessor.
Turner was born and raised in Houston’s Acres Homes. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in political science at the University of Houston before earning a Juris Doctor from Harvard Law School.
He worked as a trial lawyer and later co-founded his own firm specializing in commercial law and personal injury litigation.
Turner served 27 years in the Texas House of Representatives, representing District 139. His first term was in 1989.
He was elected as Houston’s mayor in 2015 and re-elected in 2019, reaching his term limit.
Last year, Turner was elected to take over the seat formerly held by late-Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, who died of pancreatic cancer in July.
Jackson Lee had already won the Democratic primary for the seat at the time of her death. Turner was chosen to be the party's nominee by local Democratic precinct chairs.
Lee's children, Jason Lee and Erica Lee Carter, endorsed Turner following their mother's death.
He was sworn-in to office on Jan. 3, 2025.
Turner honored at City of Houston, Texas Capitol
Mourners got an opportunity to pay their respects to the late Congressman earlier this week.
On Tuesday, the former mayor lay in state at Houston City Hall.
On Thursday and Friday, Turner's casket was in the Hall of the House of Representatives at the Texas Capitol.
Turner served 27 years in the Texas House.
The Source: Information in this article comes from The Church Without Walls in Houston, the Turner family and past FOX 26 coverage.