Elmer H. Turner, Jr. was born April 26, 1971 in Oakland, California to the proud parents of Lynette and Elmer Turner, Sr. Growing up with the love of his family especially his Grandparents Curtis and Alma Turner, Elmer graduated from St. Bernard’s Elementary and St. Elizabeth’s High School of Oakland, California. After graduating from the Marine Corp. in 1990, he traveled the nation extensively [1].
Elmer was able to balance life in so many ways. He enjoyed his profession [2] and somehow he had the ability to teach others so much he learned from his formal education, family, as well as from “the school of hard knocks” [3]. In search of truth and the meaning of life, Christianity and Muslim faith helped form his great spirit [4]. From experience in Silicon Valley to Las Vegas and later returning to the Bay Area, he claimed comfort in finding his most rewarding job with Bombardier.
Elmer was passionate about life, intelligent, strong, opinionated, happy, and fearless with a commitment to family [5]. When in town the family get-togethers, especially the cousins gathering were a must. He met and married his childhood sweetheart, Yolanda Cotton in 1994 [6]. They took great pride in raising their children. Although we knew he worried about his kid’s happiness and future, fatherhood was pleasing to El. He made raising Mufasaa, Shah, and Aliyah his primary focus in life. But “all work and no play” was not his motto. He liked to hang out with his friends. Salivation Army, CYO and other long term friendships were his hallmark. Once a trusted friend many became his “friends for life” [7].
Elmer was preceded in death by his wonderful grandfather Curtis Turner, Sr., Uncle Curtis Turner, Jr., and Grandmother Dolores Early. He leaves to mourn his wife Yolanda Turner, sons Mufasaa and Shah and daughter Aliyah, mother Lynette Early and father Elmer Turner Sr., Grandmother Alma Turner, brothers Darnell Mooring and Harun Turner, Uncle Joseph Early, Aunts Dorothy, Marion Turner-Riley, Wanda (and Geary) Johnson, and Zoline Turner, as well as very close cousins and other extended family, friends, and associates that will miss him dearly. We love you El !
~ Written by El’s Aunt Wanda ~
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[1] Traveling the nation mostly happened for Elmer while in the U.S. Marines. He traveled to many states within the country including Florida, Memphis, TN, San Diego, CA, and the Carolina’s. He also visited Mexico. After the Marines he visited Chicago, IL and Boston, MA, in addition to moving to Las Vegas, NV. We can also take this sentence figuratively as he did much traveling and exploration amongst the Nation of Islam and black “family” in general.
[2] Elmer’s profession began in the Marines with electronics were he received certification May 24, 1991 as a technician in miniature repair. He continued his education by attending Avionics School. He always loved planes and wanted to use his detailed skills on them until he realized the politics in the commercial sector and the pressure he would feel. Soon there after, he became certified in Fiber Optic repair as he knew the future was moving towards this type of data streaming. Around the turn of the century (c. 1998-2000), Elmer attended Silicon Valley College as he entered the IT world to become a Systems Network Administrator. He loved Computers and often referred to himself as a geek. He took on jobs dealing with internet security, internet streaming media, and data storage. His opportunities dwindled in Las Vegas but managed to find a job or two in computer repair including certification in Toshiba laptop repairs. His most recent resume (not including his job at Bombardier) will be posted in the photo section.
[3] Education was very important to El. Formalized education and the “paper” (degree) one would receive upon completion were not as important to him as the purity of the facts taught on and the opportunity to receive that knowledge wholesome and without hidden agenda’s. So El discovered much of his knowledge from books and from intimate dialog. From the ghetto street dwellers to the most civilized suburbians, he took knowledge from anywhere it presented its self. He shared all his findings with all who would listen and would do so for hours on end (a Turner trait!). Educating the youth and the black community was what he lived for.
[4] Spirituality needed to be logically defined and was best defined by the Nation of Islam. His love of history and religion often tied in together as did his respect for structure and disciple of men when fighting for a cause. The motive behind his spirituality was that of which he expressed in any forum – truth! He felt that the NOI expressed truth to those who had been deprived and fed those who were “hungry” for righteousness. Elmer was a soldier till his dying day. He grew up Catholic however which made him diverse and knowledgeable on what he spoke. To express his religious passion and to help ensure his children stay on the straight and narrow, we named each child with purpose and based those from Arabic or Swahili languages.
[5] “Elmer was passionate about life, intelligent, strong, opinionated, happy, and fearless with a commitment to family” This sentence speaks perfectly as to his primary characteristics. There are other secondary characteristics that we all are familiar with in the way that we needed to know this intense man, in what we needed to LEARN from this man. The only thing I would add is his pain. He had many tribulations and a deep seeded pain that moved me to the deepest levels. I believe his passions stemmed from that pain. Through pain we meet our God, we connect with our true spirit, and hopefully it moves us to make the world a better place…as it did so for Elmer.
[6] We met during high school in 1986 through camp friends. After high school I went into college and he went into the military. The summer of 1993 we both coincidentally ran into each other at CYO summer camp were he was working fresh out of the Corp and were I was volunteering as I often did during the summer break. We talked all night long getting reunited and becoming familiar with our beliefs and future goals. Elmer ended the conversation by telling me quite directly that he was “sprung” and that he would never leave my side. I thought he was crazy because I wasn’t interested in him! Now 14 years and three children later I can sit here and tell you that his word was bond – he never left my side. This is how I know he is not gone now. He has only stepped ahead of me to lay the carpet for us all to walk on after him.
[7] Relationships were extremely important to Elmer. His friends for life were those who he chose to let into his world and those who could tolerate the price paid to be there. Every one of us is stronger for having known this man, undoubtedly. He once said to me “I would die for you”. I thought that was a weird thing to say but now I really understood why he said that. I’m sure we all have some memory that now makes sense, now that he has finished his work here and we can see hind-sighted. It’s a bit strange how Elmer held so much bundled and tied tightly inside but now that his body has past on and can not contain the super-concentrated compacted spirit, the “powder keg” has burst and miniscule particles of clarity and emotion have been released into cycling air streams which we will breathe into our bodies and consume as oxygen.
The struggle continues!
~ Additional commentary provided by El’s Wife Yolanda ~
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Please visit Elmer's other online memorials !!
Don't forget to sign guestbooks, offer tributes, and share memories as you visit each site.
http://elmerturnerjr.memory-of.com/
and
http://elmerturnerjr.virtual-memorials.com/
You can contribute to the memorial website via http://elmerturnerjr.memory-of.com/ or by emailing me at cottonturner@gmail.com
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Taken from Elmer's Yahoo Profile:
Interests: Music, Ridin, Cooking, Music, Making money, Computers, Good Conversations, Traveling, Learning, and Knowledge
Taken from Elmer's MySpace Profile:
