Funeral services will be held Saturday December 5, 2015 at 11:00 A.M. at St. Paul's Cathedral Catholic Church, 2120 - 3rd Avenue North, B'ham 35203, with burial in New Grace Hill Cemetery. A devout Catholic and faithful member of Our Lady Queen of the Universe Catholic Church. Pioneer, Veteran Civil and Human Rights Activist, "Foot Soldier" and consisting of all volunteer work! Graduate of A. H. Parker High School, Booker T. Washington Business College and Dale Carnegie. Yvonne W. Turner was the first black female hired to work in the Birmingham Area Office of the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), where she, after many years of service, retired. After retiring from HUD, she worked as a counselor at the Birmingham Housing Authority in programs to aid the homeless. Lifetime member of the Alabama Christian Movement for Human Rights and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC). Other affiliations: Voter education drives, marches, B'ham City Council, B'ham Art Commission, B'ham Civil Rights Institute Board of Directors, B'ham Design Review Committee, Jefferson, St. Clair, Blount County Mental Health and Mental Retardation Commission, and countless others. Charter member of the Magic City Chapter Links, Incorporated, a captain in the Jones Valley Bon Ami Sport Unit of the Elks, affiliated with the National Forum of Black Public Administrators. She is a recipient of over 100 awards locally and nationally for her professional and volunteer contributions to the betterment of life for all people, which includes: a recipient of the SCLC Foundation's Power Belle Legacy Award, a 2013 calendar honoree for the NAACP, but one of her recent treasured awards was honor bestowed by the City of Birmingham, "Gallery of Distinguished Citizens Inductee 2013." She was predeceased by her devoted husband of 70 years, James L. Turner, Sr. Leaving to cherish her memories: her only brother, Jon Harvey Williams; children; Philandus "Butch" Turner, Roderick Turner Sr., Keith Turner, Sr., Leitha Turner-Taunton, and Stanley Turner, Sr. Stepchildren from widower husband's first marriage; Christine Jackson, Spencer Lewis, Harry Turner, Sr. Barbara Ann Gilchrist and a host of grandchildren. Smith & Gaston Southside directing.
"You have definitely earned the prize"
"We love you and it has always been an honor having you as our mom "