Community, Houston officials pay respects to U.S. Congressman Sylvester Turner

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- The City of Houston gathered on Saturday to pay respects to the late former mayor and U.S. Congressman Sylvester Turner, who died on March 5.

National and local leaders, along with the 62nd mayor's friends and family, arrived at the Church Without Walls for his final celebration of life after lying in state in the City Hall rotunda and lying "in honor" at the State Capitol earlier in the week.

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Turner was a longtime member of the northwest church for over 35 years.

Turner's colleagues, such as Minority Leader of the U.S. House of Representatives Hakeem Jefferies and Congressman AL Green, made appearances and speeches.

Gospel artist and Houston native Yolanda Adams also performed at the Saturday morning service.

Turner had been diagnosed with bone cancer in 2022 but had said he was cancer-free.

According to Turner's family, he went to the hospital after President Donald Trump's address to Congress on March 4 and was released that evening.

He died at home the following morning "from enduring health complications," his family said.

Flags at Houston's City Hall were at half-staff in Turner's honor.

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Turner served as mayor of Houston for eight years and was elected in November to represent the 18th district, a seat held by longtime Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, who died in July from pancreatic cancer.

A graduate of Harvard Law School, Congressman Turner was an accomplished attorney, going on to open a law firm that remains a mainstay in the community.

He served in the Texas House of Representatives for 27 years and was Speaker Pro Tem for three terms. During his tenure as mayor, Turner was a leader within the U.S. Conference of Mayors and the African American Mayors Association.

He often mentioned how proud he was to have grown up in Acres Homes.