STATEMENT RELEASE:
SENATE PRESIDENT ROBERT STIVERS ON
THE PASSING OF STATE SENATOR JOHNNIE TURNER
FRANKFORT, KY (Oct. 23, 2024) — The following statement may be attributed to Senate President Robert Stivers on behalf of the Senate Majority Caucus:
“It is with heavy hearts that we share the news of Sen. Johnnie Turner’s passing Tuesday evening, following a hard-fought battle with injuries sustained in his recent accident. Over the past weeks, his remarkable resolve and strength filled the Turner family—and all of us—with optimism, making this loss all the more difficult to bear.
“This loss is deeply personal to me, as I have known Johnnie long before our paths crossed in public office. I will miss my friend; my heart breaks for his wife, Maritza, and his children. The love and admiration I, along with so many others, feel for Johnnie is immense, but I know it pales compared to the depth of love held by those closest to him.”
“Johnnie spent his life lifting others—whether through his service in the U.S. Army, as a member of the State House of Representatives and State Senate, or in his private legal practice. His unwavering commitment to the people of Eastern Kentucky—his constituents, brothers and sisters in Christ, whom he so fondly referred to as ‘his people’—was at the heart of everything he did.
“Johnnie’s deep love for his family, community, and the region he represented will be remembered and cherished by all who knew him and were fortunate enough to have felt the positive impact he made. The effects of his tireless work on behalf of Eastern Kentucky families will endure, and his legacy of service and leadership will not be forgotten.
“The outpouring of support across Kentucky reflects the legacy Johnnie leaves behind. We humbly ask all to respect the privacy of the Turner family as they mourn this incredible loss.”
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Details regarding services will be shared as they become available.
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