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Sylvester Turner, who was sworn in as a U.S. representative in January, has passed away at the age of 70. His office confirmed his death in a statement.
The office of Congressman Sylvester Turner took to X and shared a statement on March 5, 2025.
“It is with profound sadness, that we announce the passing of Congressman Turner dedicated to his life to public service and the betterment of his community.”
According to a report in The New York Times, he was rushed to the hospital following President Donald Trump’s speech on Capitol Hill on March 4, 2025.
The exact cause of his death has not been determined, but he had previously faced bone cancer. As per a report in the Associated Press, his family confirmed that he died at his home at 5:45 a.m. due to health complications. He previously battled bone cancer and, in 2022, revealed that he had undergone treatment.
Beyond his political career, Turner's personal life also garnered public interest. He was married to Cheryl Turner from 1983 until their divorce in 1991, according to a report in Blackpast. Let’s dive into additional details.
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Everything to know about Cheryl Turner
Cheryl Turner and Sylvester Turner tied the knot in 1983 and welcomed their only daughter Ashely Paige Turner, according to a report in BlackPast. They were married for approximately eight years. Ashley is currently working in the healthcare field.
According to a report in Chron, Cheryl was a former Harris County assistant district attorney. She was sentenced to 10 years in prison in 2006 for embezzling $143,000 from a trust fund. The report indicated that Turner was hired to set up a trust fund for the estate of a garbage collector who had amassed the money to care for his mentally disabled son and stepdaughter.
In the report, Assistant District Attorney Lester Blizzard noted that Turner used the funds for personal living costs, spending the money over a roughly six-month period between September 2000 and March 2001.
"It's a just verdict," Blizzard told the outlet during that time, "But it's a sad day. I take no joy in seeing a former alumni of the district attorney's office being sent to prison."
The report states that Turner went into private practice in 1991. It was during this time that she filed for divorce with Sylvester Turner, who was running for mayor.
As per a report in IBI Times, Turner was born on September 27, 1954. He was the sixth of his nine siblings. His father was a commercial painter, and his mother was a maid at the Rice hotel. He studied political science at the University of Houston and earned a law degree from Harvard Law School.
According to the Statement from the Office of Congressman Sylvester Turner:
He began his career as a trial lawyer at Fulbright & Jaworski and later co-founded the law firm Barnes & Turner in 1983. His political career began in 1988 when he was elected to the Texas House of Representatives, where he served 27 years.
From Joe Biden to various state representatives, many have paid tribute to Sylvester Turner on social media platforms.
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