Honoring the Legacy of Rev. Dr. Sylvester "Tee" Turner
It is with heavy hearts that we share the news of the unexpected passing of our beloved friend and mentor, Rev. Dr. Sylvester "Tee" Turner, of Richmond, Virginia, on Sunday, January 11th. For those of you who have attended our Racial Trustbuilding Workshops, Rev. Turner was more than likely one of the facilitators who led you through a discussion on race. For many of us in Troup County, Tee was more than a facilitator; he was a "gentleman" who fostered a safe space for us to confront our history and grow together.
A Catalyst for Healing in Troup County
When local leaders first decided to face the community's racial divide in 2015, they sought a proven model for reconciliation. They found that model in Hope in the Cities, based in Richmond, Virginia. Through this partnership, Tee became an instrumental figure in the early days of our local efforts. Mrs. Cricket White, also of Richmond, joined Rev. Turner in our trainings.
Their contribution was vital to the robust success of Trustbuilding, Inc. in Troup County, including LaGrange, Hogansville, and West Point. With their help, hundreds of residents have attended intensive training sessions in the local community. They used dialogue paired with empathy and exceptional grace to make difficult conversations meaningful, creating a new narrative built on reconciliation and justice.
In every workshop you would hear this phrase. "We have to build a container strong enough to hold the truth." — Rev. Dr. Tee Turner
A Legacy of "Honest Conversation"
Tee embodied the guiding principles of Hope in the Cities:
Honest Conversation: He committed to honesty and candor in all dialogues, risking himself and encouraging us to do the same.
Personal Responsibility: He challenged us to recognize our own participation in systems of access and exclusion, and to take responsibility for creating inclusion.
Acts of Reconciliation: He believed that real progress begins with the acknowledgment of history and building interpersonal relationships.
Tee often echoed the words of Dr. John Hope Franklin, reminding us that "we’ve got to tell the unvarnished truth." He thrived in these settings because he knew we were one decisive action away from building a stronger, healthier community.
In his 30 years of reconciliation work, Tee remarked that he had never seen so many community leaders present at the start of such an initiative. He was fully vested in our success, in Troup County, spending many Friday nights and Saturdays in LaGrange to lead workshops and "Train the Trainer" sessions to ensure our work became sustainable. His influence even extended beyond our borders; when the City of Smyrna, Georgia sought assistance to launch their own initiative, using the same model, Rev. Turner and Chalton Askew worked together to get them started.
The Community Trustbuilding Fellowship
The Community Trustbuilding Fellowship hosted by Initiatives of Change was a catalyst for our further development. Several of our local leaders completed this rigorous training, including Rev. Carl Von Epps, Ben Wheeler, Chalton Askew, Anna Odom, Curtis Brown, Jr., and Sherri Brown.
Remembering a "Steady Guide"
The impact of Tee’s work is felt deeply by those who walked alongside him:
Rev. Carl Von Epps, “Tee had a way of making you feel like you were his best friend. His passing is shocking and will be felt indefinitely. We will always treasure his friendship and honor his legacy. Rest well my friend.”
Dr. George Henry: "Sad news indeed. Tee was a marvelous man with compassion and inspired purpose, helping countless others on the great journey toward fulfillment".
Jim Thornton, former Mayor, City of LaGrange: "Tee was a very special person and very helpful for Trustbuilding in LaGrange. As you know, Tee played an instrumental role in the early days of Trustbuilding in LaGrange, and his impact continues to be felt long after those first conversations. He brought to our community a lifetime of experience, but even more importantly, a rare empathy and exceptional grace. Tee had a way of making difficult conversations not only easier but more meaningful. He encouraged us to share our own experiences while truly valuing the lived experiences of others. He created a space for honesty, humility, and growth. Through his work with Hope in the Cities and just by his personal presence, Tee helped make the community he touched better. He was a gentle soul, a steady guide, and a reminder that real progress begins with listening and respect. LaGrange is better because of him, and I am personally thankful for his leadership".
Connie Askew, participant: "I met Mr. Turner at my very first Racial Trustbuilding Workshop, held at the LaGrange Troup County Chamber of Commerce in LaGrange, GA. He was such a nice 'gentleman', fostering security and a safe space for all who were in attendance. He was such a smart man, and he shared information and history in a way that we all could receive, as well as share our own experiences and stories. Over the years, we became good friends as he worked closely with my husband, Min Chalton Askew. I pray for his family and friends that God comforts and keeps them during the coming days".
Tripp Penn, President, Callaway Foundation: "I enjoyed working with him, and he did meaningful work in our community."
Dan McAlexander, former President, LaGrange College: "A truly excellent, humane, thoughtful, hopeful man. I am grateful we had the opportunity to have him work with us, and very sad at this loss".
Lynn Norris, One Harris County: Important Life Lessons learned from Rev. Tee Turner: The most important part of the Trustbuilding experience is learning to be honest about who YOU are.
Trust comes from taking the time and effort to build a container large enough to hold the truth. That is how we build genuine relationships that result in solutions, because relationships make things happen, and we are better together.
Knowing Tee and having had the opportunity to learn from his wisdom made us better people. We are grateful for his willingness to include us in his Train the Trainer sessions.
Min. Iris Lovelace, local facilitator: Remembering Tee Turner's impactful Trustbuilding training in LaGrange was a profound experience, as he shared his vast expertise, it ignited a sense of community and collective purpose. This training sparked meaningful connections with like-minded individuals, and his work reminded us that, together, we can drive positive change and build a brighter future for our community. Rest in peace, Brother Tee.
Kathy Tilley: Tee was a wonderful man, and we are all better people for having known him. (Kathy was with Troup County Center for Strategic Planning during Tee’s tenure and was the coordinator of most of our activities.)
The mission of Racial Trust Building, Inc., is to bridge the racial divide in Troup County through trust-building, research, community collaboration, and action in order to remove barriers that prevent full access to opportunities for all.
We envision a Troup County that is a thriving community where trust is built, unity is developed, hope is inspired, and equal access to opportunity is assured for all people.
We invite you to carry Tee’s mission forward by continuing the work of building trust, inspiring hope, and ensuring equal access for all people in Troup County.
On a Personal Note . . . About My Family
When my family, the Hairstons, visited Williamsburg, VA. I arranged for Tee to take us on the Slave Trail in Richmond.
As far as we can trace our lineage, our ancestor, Lizzie Newton, was sold 'down the river' from Virginia to LaGrange. As I walked that trail with the Community Trustbuilding Fellowship in 2017, it struck me: Lizzie had walked this path many years ago, enslaved, but God had redeemed her prayers. He allowed her descendants to do what she could not—to walk this trail as free people.
My mother’s oldest sister was with us, though she did not walk the trail herself; she was 90 years old at the time. I was delighted to see them witness this moment. My mother did join the walk. Both have since passed away.
The Richmond Slave Trail is a walking path that traces the history of the slave trade from Africa to Virginia until 1775, and from Richmond to other parts of the Americas until 1865. The trail runs along the James River. It is how enslaved Africans were unloaded from boats in the dark of night and walked to the slave markets of Richmond.
We will long remember Tee for his knowledge, wisdom, and selfless acts of kindness.
This tribute to Rev. Dr. Sylvester “Tee” Turner was compiled by Chalton Askew, Executive Director of Trustbuilding, Inc., LaGrange, Georgia
