Turner Gilmore Jr., 78 passed peacefully at his home on July 20, 2010 after a long illness. He always looked at life as the glass half full. He attended Booker Washington High School, and Shelby State College. In his early years, he worked tirelessly to unionize the postal workers in Memphis and the southern region, to break the barriers of segregation in the post office, and became the first president of Local 52 and ultimately the Regional VP of the Mailhandlers’ Union. His professional career led him to becoming the Assistant Director of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, where he retired in 1987 after 31 years of government service. He then turned his energies as a volunteer to the Shelby County Sheriff’s Department, where he received an award as the Volunteer Shelby County Sheriff Deputy for 1990, for visiting the elderly and shut ins in Shelby County. He also created G&G Enterprises, a skills based training program for waiters, waitresses and bartenders. He served many years as the Parish Council president of St. Anthony’s Catholic Church and later joined St. Augustine, where he contributed in many capacities including President of the men’s club and held the keys to the church. He was a mentor to Catholic youth as a sponsor of the Catholic Youth Organization. He loved his family and church. He is survived by his wife, Marcia Gilmore; his children, Turner Gilmore, III, Gilda G. Lewis, Kathy Gilmore, Kim G. Sims and Gail Hernandez; stepchildren, Dawn Peyton and Tracy Ellis; by his brother, Desoto Gilmore; sister, Verley Meacham; 16 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren. Services will be at St. Augustine Catholic Church, 1169 Kerr: Rosary and Visitation, Sunday July 25, 2-4 p.m., Funeral - Monday, July 26, 11 a.m. Burial will be at Forest Hill Cemetery. R. S. Lewis & Sons Funeral Home (901)526-3264