[Photo: Callaghan O’Hare / Bloomberg via Getty Images file]
Acres Homes native, Sylvester Turner passed away on Wednesday, March 5th, 2025. Sources say that Turner was experiencing respiratory problems earlier this week and after coming home from doctor’s appointment he collapsed at the front door of his apartment in Washington D.C. and died early this morning. Turner was an attorney and politician serving as the U.S. Representative for Texas’ 18th Congressional District, replacing the late Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee. Turner was a member of the Democratic Party and the 62nd mayor of Houston from 2016-2024, he was also a member of the House of Representatives from 1989 to 2016.
Turner was born on September 27th, 1954, in Houston, TX, he was the sixth of nine children; he graduated senior class president and valedictorian from Klein High School, he then went on to the University of Houston and graduated magna cum laude with a B.A. degree in political science. He went to Harvard Law School and received a J.D. degree. Turner ran for Mayor a few times in Houston before he was successful. Initially running in 1991, he lost the runoff election to Bob Lanier who was mayor of Houston from 1992 to 1998. He lost again in 2003, coming in third place which disqualified him from the runoff election.
12 years later in 2015, Turner won the runoff election defeating Bill King by over 4,000 votes. In 2019, he won his second term as mayor over Tony Buzbee. In 2024, after the death of former Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, Turner was elected in November 2024 to fill her congressional seat and took office in January 2025. During his time as a practicing attorney, Turner joined Fulbright & Jaworski law firm before starting his own firm, Barnes & Turner. He had many teaching roles, serving as adjunct professor at Texas Southern Universities, Thurgood Marshall School of Law, seminar lecturer at South Texas College of Law, and the University of Houston Law School’s Continuing Legal Education Programs.
During his time as mayor, Turner wanted stricter laws regarding rideshare services (Uber & Lyft), In 2016, Texas led the country in drunk driving fatalities. He was also supporter of LBTQAI+ rights and initiatives, stating that over the years his views had “evolved” surrounding LBTQAI+. He was also a longtime supporter of abortion rights.
Sylvester Turner’s life and legacy are a testament to resilience, leadership, and an unwavering commitment to public service. Beyond politics, Turner’s impact was felt in the lives he touched, through mentorship, advocacy, and his relentless pursuit of progress. His passing marks the end of an era, but his contributions will continue shaping Houston for generations to come.
