08 LC 21
9699
House
Resolution 1129
By:
Representatives Brooks of the
63rd,
Williams of the
165th,
Mangham of the
94th,
Abdul-Salaam of the
74th,
Lucas of the
139th,
and others
A
RESOLUTION
Expressing
regret at the passing of Deacon Richard Turner, Sr.; and for other
purposes.
WHEREAS,
Deacon Richard Turner, Sr., passed away on December 5, 2007, and a Homecoming
Celebration was held for him at Second Community Baptist Church in Sandersville,
Georgia, on December 12, 2007; and
WHEREAS,
he was born on October 31, 1928, as the eighth of nine children born to the late
Deacon Claude Turner and Deaconess Beulah Kitchen Turner, who were farmers and
entrepreneurs in Tennille and Sandersville, Georgia; and
WHEREAS,
he accepted Christ as his Lord and Savior early in life, and he and his wife,
Eloise, founded the Second Community Baptist Church, where he served as chairman
of the deacon board until the time of his death and where he started a feed the
hungry program and delivered food to the homes of the sick and elderly;
and
WHEREAS,
in his youth, he was a farmer and construction worker, and in 1953, he married
Eloise "Polly" Cooper; he worked as a carpenter, plumber, electrician, and
builder, and he built a home for the couple and their son, Ricky, gaining a
reputation in Sandersville as a gentleman who would help anyone who asked;
and
WHEREAS,
Deacon Turner was a civil rights activist and leader in Washington County,
Georgia, and in 1969, he helped organize the Black Youth Club, which became the
impetus of the civil rights movement in Washington County and brought about the
desegregation of the public schools and prompted more equality in employment
opportunities; and
WHEREAS,
he did not turn away from the dangers of life as a civil rights activist; he was
beaten by police, survived gun shots that wrecked his car and damaged his house,
and he was jailed numerous times;
and
WHEREAS, he was the founder of the Sandersville Chapter of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and served as a national board member; and
WHEREAS, he was the founder of the Sandersville Chapter of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and served as a national board member; and
WHEREAS,
his life was one of constant caring and giving and concern for his community,
and he left his community, his state, and his nation a better
place.
NOW,
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that the members of
this body express their deepest and most sincere regret at the passing of Deacon
Richard Turner, Sr., and convey condolences to his family and
friends.
BE
IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized
and directed to transmit an appropriate copy of this resolution to the family of
Deacon Richard Turner, Sr.