The life of the Rev. Dr. Otis Turner, who died Aug. 2, is celebrated with joy and thanksgiving
by Mike Ferguson | Presbyterian News Service
The Rev. Dr. Otis Turner, shown here with his wife, Dr. Patsy Turner, was honored last year by Wofford College, where he served during the 1970s as the first Black faculty member. (Photo courtesy of Wofford College)
LOUISVILLE — Family and friends remembered the Rev. Dr. Otis Turner on Monday as a justice-seeker and a strategic, compassionate soldier for racial justice in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and in the larger society.
Turner, the first Black faculty member at Wofford College in Spartanburg, South Carolina, who later worked for 25 years on the national staff of the Presbyterian Church, died Aug. 2 in Jacksonville, Florida. Sardis Missionary Baptist Church in Dawson, Georgia, hosted Monday’s service, which was livestreamed and can be viewed here.
“No one word fully expresses the man. No one image describes completely his life,” said the Rev. Mark Koenig, who called Turner his mentor. “Beloved child of God, Jesus-follower, the first, justice-seeker, husband, father, friend, family man. … One I think we need to add is teacher,” and this great teacher had a three-part lesson plan, according to Koenig:
- Ground our work in faith. “It is God’s intention that structural racism be dismantled,” Koenig said. “God cajoles us to engage in that work.”
- Plan carefully and be flexible. “Remain alert to the movement of the Holy Spirit — and trust that Spirit,” he said.
- Remember that we are part of a movement, because “true change happens through movements.”
“Otis took his place in the movement. He served faithfully, and he served well,” Koenig said. “Now death has come to him, and we grieve, but we grieve through hope, the hope that death is not the end.”
Koenig led those gathered in the Latin American custom of remembering the person who died by saying Turner’s name and then asking everyone gathered to respond, “Presente!”
The Rev. Belinda Curry called Turner “Big Brother,” and he called her “BC.” Four decades ago, Curry heard Turner speak on racial justice to the Presbytery of St. Andrew. “Big Brother’s words have stuck with me,” Curry said. “He was willing to come to Mississippi and speak to a small group about keeping the faith and moving forward.”
Turner taught Curry that “in order to get rid of racism, you have to get rid of structures that allow racism to exist, both in church and society. That’s what he was doing all his life.”
Turner’s friend Pete Silver thanked Turner for being “that soldier for racial justice.”
“If you say you appreciate the work the Rev. Dr. Otis Turner spent his life advocating for, when November comes this year, be the first in line to vote,” he suggested. “If you choose not to vote on Nov. 5 and you say you appreciate this man’s work, you’ve told the biggest lie in the world.”
Turner’s son, Leotis, compared his father to Superman, who could “rip apart cars with his bare hands. My dad could repair them with his bare hands.”
Superman wore a blue suit and a red cape; Turner wore “a shirt and tie and the coveralls of a carpenter and auto mechanic.”
Superman had x-ray vision; “my daddy had the vision to buy a car that lasted 500,000 miles.”
Superman “had courage and physical strength. My daddy had courage and a passion for justice. He was a son of the living God.”
“I say today, save your sad tears for that many or woman, that boy or girl, who did not have a Superman in their life like my dad.”
The Rev. Dr. Otis Turner
“We are grateful for your example of dedication and support. Thank you for being a pillar of strength,” said Keith Simms, whom Turner called “a bonus son.” “We celebrate the positive impact you have made.”
Representatives of three institutions read resolutions honoring Turner. The Rev. Dr. David Wallace, past president of the National Black Presbyterian Caucus, read resolutions from a regional chapter and the national organization, which noted Turner “embraced the belief it was an important task of the NBPC to take seriously the needs of the poor, the dispossessed and the disenfranchised.”
Representing U.S. Rep. Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. of Georgia’s Second District, Christopher Drake also read a resolution, as did the Rev. Raushanah N. Butler from Emory University’s Candler School of Theology, which awarded Turner the first doctoral degree earned by an African American. Turner “changed the Candler School of Theology,” Butler noted.
The Rev. Joe Rigsby, a longtime friend of Turner, delivered the eulogy.
To Turner’s wife, Dr. Patsy Turner, “love and appreciation for your care and your love of Otis,” Rigsby said. “I think these three sons speak loudly for the kind of person he was.”
Rigsby thanked God for the way Turner “changed the landscape wherever he was.”
“Otis was a tower of strength and knowledge,” said Rigsby, who centered his eulogy on Psalm 23 and Job 14:14.
When we’re walking through the darkest valley, “the mountains temporarily block the sunlight. It’s a dangerous place,” Rigsby noted. “Otis went through those dangerous places. The shadow comes and goes. It exists only as long as there’s a light to cast the shadow.”
“A shadow can block the light only so long,” Rigsby said.
Interment at Cedar Hill Cemetery in Dawson occurred following the 1 hour, 45-minute service. Albritten’s Funeral Service was in charge of the arrangements.
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