[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 2]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 2624]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      A TRIBUTE TO DR. E.B. TURNER

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. MIKE McINTYRE

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 3, 2009

  Mr. McINTYRE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a giant 
among giants, a friend of all citizens from all walks of life, and a 
man whose hand was always extended to those who wanted to reach for 
their dreams--Dr. E.B. Turner of Lumberton, Robeson County, NC.
  Dr. Turner, who passed away October 5, 2008, was an inspirational 
leader, dedicated public servant, and renowned pastor for generations 
of Robesonians. Sixty years earlier in 1948, Dr. Turner, who had just 
finished divinity school at Shaw University, made the trip south down 
I-95 to Lumberton to become pastor at First Baptist Church in South 
Lumberton. Never planning to make Lumberton his home or become involved 
in public service, Turner was challenged by the opportunity to make a 
difference. And through wisdom, perseverance, and drive, he truly did. 
From housing to infrastructure to economic development to education, 
Dr. Turner made a lasting impact on the future and quality of life for 
hundreds of thousands of citizens.
  In addition to his public contributions, Dr. Turner faithfully served 
the First Baptist Church for 57 years as Pastor. Through his love of 
God and his willingness to share the good news with all, Dr. Turner not 
only changed lives, he changed hearts.
  I knew Dr. Turner personally. He and my father, Dr. Douglas C. 
McIntyre, served on the City Council together in the 1970s. Later, Dr. 
Turner and I served together on the board of the newly chartered 
Lumberton Economic Advancement for Downtown, Inc, to help revitalize 
the downtown of our city. He and I were involved in many political 
activities together, and he appointed me to serve on the Robeson County 
Human Relations Commission. He encouraged me when I first ran for 
Congress to ``do something that people can see and feel and touch.'' 
And, indeed I have kept those words in my mind and heart throughout the 
years as an inspiration when working on projects and programs to help 
folks back home in southeastern North Carolina.
  Madam Speaker, a few weeks ago, our nation inaugurated our country's 
first African-American President, Barack Obama. President Obama, and 
the next generation of political leaders, stand on the shoulders of men 
like Dr. E.B. Turner who paved the way for their success.
  May God's blessings continue to shine upon Dr. Turner, his wife 
Georgia, daughters Andrea and Rosalind, and all of his extended family.

                          ____________________