The passing of Robert Turner (b. 15 October, 1855 or 1856, Virginia d. 1909 California)
• the first African-American Bahá'í and a member of the first Western Pilgrimage to Haifa in 1898, led by his employer Mrs. Phoebe Hearst. He was a butler in her household for more than 35 years. He was taught the Bahá'í Faith by Lua Getsinger in the process of serving tea and remained a devoted believer his entire life. "Such was the tenacity of his faith that even the subsequent estrangement of his beloved mistress from the Cause she had spontaneously embraced failed to becloud its radiance, or to lessen the intensity of the emotions which the loving-kindness showered by 'Abdu'l-Bahá upon him had excited in his breast." (GPB259) [A Vision of Race Unity, Ving p101, AZBF475, An Early Pilgrimage by May Maxwell]
• He received a Tablet from 'Abdu'l-Bahá while on his deathbed and a tribute after his passing. [AY60, 61, 339, AB72]
• He was one of the nineteen Western Bahá'ís designated as a Disciple of 'Abdu'l-Bahá.
• A Tablet to him from 'Abdu'l-Bahá can be found in SWABpg114 #78 and 'Abdu'l-Bahá in America (website).
• See also Bahaipedia, Bahá'í Chronicles.
• Find a Grave. His grave was found in 1981 and identified with a gravestone placed by the National Spiritual Assembly. [Bahá'í News No 604 July 1981 p12]
• Ask a Bahá'í.

In 1955 he and his wife Adrienne embraced the Bahá'í Faith together at nearby Davison (now Louhelen) Bahá'í School, and from the start they were enthusiastic in Bahá'í activities and teaching. A science educator, he served as a Bahá'í pioneer in nearly a dozen countries — significantly Cambodia, Vietnam, Chad, Uganda and others in Africa, Asia and the Caribbean — using his spare time from school teaching jobs to awaken and educate Bahá'í communities and stimulate their growth. He was a member of National Spiritual Assemblies and National Teaching Committees in several of those countries. He also took part in teaching the Faith in many parts of the U.S. South.

He was of Cherokee as well as African-American extraction. He received instruction at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and during World War II he flew as a first lieutenant in one of the all-African-American units of the Army Air Forces known collectively as the Tuskegee Airmen. [ The American Bahá'i Jul-Aug 2013; Bahaipedia; Adrienne and Dempsey Morgan, Servants of the Glory]