‘Don’t mess with Medicaid’: Former Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner’s final words, family says

HOUSTON, Texas – “Don’t mess with Medicaid” were the final words many surrounding the former Mayor of Houston and U.S. Representative Sylvester Turner spoke before he passed away in Washington D.C. on Wednesday, March 5.

In a statement on his campaign website, the former mayor’s cause of death was finally revealed, along with his final words. The statement read, “He died at home shortly thereafter from enduring health complications.”

The family said that on the evening of Turner’s death, he was in the Capitol for a joint session of Congress and posted a video online imploring Americans to join together to protect the most vulnerable among us.

Turner dedicated his life to public service. He served nearly three decades in the Texas House of Representatives, two terms as Houston’s mayor, and, more recently, took over Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee’s seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.

On Friday, March 8, Turner’s body was brought from D.C. to Houston, where he will be honored by his family and colleagues.

On Tuesday, March 11, Turner’s body will lie in the state at Houston City Hall’s Rotunda from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

On Thursday, March 13, Turner’s body will lie in honor at the Texas State Capital Rotunda in Austin from noon until Friday, March 14, at noon.

Then, on Saturday, Turner will be laid to rest at the Church Without Walls on Saturday, March 15.

Funeral arrangements for Sylvester Turner: Final Tribute