An individual’s gifts will always make room for them and will bring them into the presence of greatness. Congressman Sylvester Turner has been in the presence of greatness. Sylvester grew up in the Acres Home community, the sixth child of nine siblings, and because of family size Congressman Turner’s family had to take turns eating at the table. Jokingly Sylvester says his father would always say: “don’t stay at the table too long”. Learning to share is an important part of family life, as well as communal life in general. Sylvester graduated from the University of Houston and Harvard Law School. Sylvester ran for Mayor on two unsuccessful prior occasions (1991) and (2003) before being elected in 2016 and serving two four-year terms. Sylvester Turner was the second Black Mayor of Houston, and Lee P. Brown was the first. In November 2022, Sylvester Turner was diagnosed with bone cancer. Even though Congressman Turner was suffering with untold excruciating pain and emotional stress, he continued to serve as best he could through all the pain and suffering. In doing so, if there are those who felt that Sylvester Turner made administrative leadership missteps charge it to the pain and suffering, not his spiritual heart.
This memorial editorial tribute is simply about a man who transcended the birth of his family and neighbor- hood environmental conditions, obtained a high-quality education, and became the mayor of the great city of Houston, and elected as the congressman from the 18th congressional district in 2024. Therefore, it is our Christian duty and Godly responsibility to say thanks for your faithful service, and we spiritually lift- up your life of public service, and your family in faithful prayer before the throne of a loving and forgiving God. Now the people of the city of Houston and the citizens of the Great State of Texas say: “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.” (Acts 16: 31). As Christians, we honored one another because all of us are created in the image of God, just a little lower than the angels.
Therefore, we should always forgive and show love towards one another: “Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another: not slothful in business; fervent in spirit, serving the Lord: rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation: continuing instant in prayer; distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.” (Romans 12: 10-13). All Texans, especially Houstonians regardless of race, color, or creed it is not for us to judge. God is the final judge, but it
is ours to forgive and spiritually understand, because this scripture says it all: “Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it
not, neither decline from the words of my mouth.
