What:

Local elected officials, postal representatives, and family and friends will all join to celebrate the dedication of the Marion Post Office building in honor of the late civil rights leader, Albert Turner Sr. The public is invited to attend this free event.

Who:

Chairman, Perry County Commission Albert Turner Jr., Son of Albert Turner Sr.
Evelyn Turner, Spouse of Albert Turner Sr.
The Honorable Terri Sewell, U.S. Congresswoman (AL-07)
The Honorable Dexter Hinton, Mayor, Marion, AL
June Martindale, USPS District Manager
Sharon Smith, USPS Postmaster, Clanton Post Office
Gail Crews, USPS Postmaster, Marion Post Office
Stephanie Johnson, USPS Manager, Customer Relations

When:

Friday, February 28, 2025, 11:00 a.m. CST

Where:

Perry County Courthouse
300 Washington St.
Marion, AL 36756

Background:

Congresswoman Terri Sewell (D-AL) spoke the words below as she proposed bill H.R. 7893 to the House of Representatives.

“…Widely known as Martin Luther King Jr.’s point man in the black belt, Albert Turner Sr. played a pivotal role in the civil rights movement helping to organize voter registration drives, protests, and work closely with civil rights leaders to advance voting rights and economic empowerment for African Americans. Albert Turner Sr. was one of the many foot soldiers who put his life on the line by marching across the Edmund Pettus bridge on Bloody Sunday in my hometown of Selma, AL to ensure that black Americans were afforded equal access to the ballot box.

Albert Turner Sr. was a true champion for racial equality and justice in Perry County community. He co-founded the Perry County Civic League, which organized protests and boycotts for racial integration of schools and public facilities. His voter mobilization efforts inspired civil rights leaders and earned him the title of Field Secretary for the Alabama Southern Christian leadership conference. Even after the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, Turner’s commitment to the cause of black advancement never wavered.

He proudly led the Southwest Alabama’s Farmer Cooperative Association to improve black farmers’ access to government loans and address the rising cost of agricultural machinery and supplies. He also served as a Perry County Commissioner for four terms, initiating and championing education, health care initiatives, and economic development for the poor and working-class residents. Currently, his son, Albert Turner Jr. is serving as Chairman of the Perry County Commission, carrying on his father’s proud legacy of public service.

The efforts of Albert Tuner Sr. paved the way for many of the freedoms that we, as African Americans, enjoy today. It is my hope that by renaming the Marion Post Office after him we can ensure that his legacy lives on forever.”

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