First African American to enroll as a Baha'i in the United States
Shoghi Effendi, Guardian of the Bahá'í Faith, designated nineteen Western Bahá'ís as Disciples of 'Abdu'l-Bahá and 'Heralds of the Covenant, one of whom was Robert Turner, the first African-American Baha'i 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 Baha'i Faith by Lua Getsinger in the process of serving tea and remained a devoted believer his entire life.
Sometime before this journey, a photograph of Mr. Turner was sent to Abdu'l-Baha, the leader of the Baha'i Faith at the time. Abdu'l-Baha wrote:
"O thou who art pure in heart, sanctified in spirit, peerless in character, beauteous in face! Thy photograph hath been received revealing thy physical frame in the utmost grace and the best appearance. Thou art dark in countenance and bright in character. Thou art like unto the pupil of the eye which is dark in colour, yet it is the fount of light and the revealer of the contingent world.
I have not forgotten nor will I forget thee. I beseech God that He may graciously make thee the sign of His bounty amidst mankind, illumine thy face with the light of such blessings as are vouchsafed by the merciful Lord, single thee out for His love in this age which is distinguished among all the past ages and centuries." Selections Pg. 114
File records show that the grave plot of Robert Turner is also the burial place of several other members of his family, including his wife and daughter.
Note: Listed in probable order of burial in the grave plot.
1. Catherine Ogden (July 3, 1818- February 11, 1905), mother of Melissa Turner,
mother-in-law of Robert Turner and grandmother of Emily Turner. Catherine Ogden
lived with Robert and Melissa Turner during her last years. Buried Cypress Lawn
Cemetery. The grave plot was probably purchased by Melissa Turner in 1905 to
bury her mother.
2. Robert Turner, (October 15, 1856-June 15, 1909), was first buried in Woodlawn
Cemetery. Remains transferred to Cypress Lawn Cemetery, in same box as his
daughter, sometime between 1909 and 1918.
3. Emily Turner (August 10, 1884-January 5, 1890), daughter of Robert and Melissa
Turner. Would have been buried first in one of the San Francisco cemeteries.
4. John Henry Rodgers (July 18, 1867-March 1, 1918), long time lodger with Robert
and Melissa Turner, helped to take care of Robert Turner in his fatal illness, barber,
buried Cypress Lawn Cemetery.
5. Melissa Turner (July 14, 1855-November 11, 1932), wife of Robert Turner. Buried
Cypress Lawn Cemetery
6. Ruby Boone (September 1888-November 11, 1936), wife of Edwin Boone.
7. Edwin Boone (September 26, 1882-January 17, 1937), Melissa Turner was his
godmother and lived with him during her last years.
8. Harriet Hickerson (January 1, 1868-January 5, 1954), mother of Ruby Boone.
Shoghi Effendi, Guardian of the Bahá'í Faith, designated nineteen Western Bahá'ís as Disciples of 'Abdu'l-Bahá and 'Heralds of the Covenant, one of whom was Robert Turner, the first African-American Baha'i 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 Baha'i Faith by Lua Getsinger in the process of serving tea and remained a devoted believer his entire life.
Sometime before this journey, a photograph of Mr. Turner was sent to Abdu'l-Baha, the leader of the Baha'i Faith at the time. Abdu'l-Baha wrote:
"O thou who art pure in heart, sanctified in spirit, peerless in character, beauteous in face! Thy photograph hath been received revealing thy physical frame in the utmost grace and the best appearance. Thou art dark in countenance and bright in character. Thou art like unto the pupil of the eye which is dark in colour, yet it is the fount of light and the revealer of the contingent world.
I have not forgotten nor will I forget thee. I beseech God that He may graciously make thee the sign of His bounty amidst mankind, illumine thy face with the light of such blessings as are vouchsafed by the merciful Lord, single thee out for His love in this age which is distinguished among all the past ages and centuries." Selections Pg. 114
File records show that the grave plot of Robert Turner is also the burial place of several other members of his family, including his wife and daughter.
Note: Listed in probable order of burial in the grave plot.
1. Catherine Ogden (July 3, 1818- February 11, 1905), mother of Melissa Turner,
mother-in-law of Robert Turner and grandmother of Emily Turner. Catherine Ogden
lived with Robert and Melissa Turner during her last years. Buried Cypress Lawn
Cemetery. The grave plot was probably purchased by Melissa Turner in 1905 to
bury her mother.
2. Robert Turner, (October 15, 1856-June 15, 1909), was first buried in Woodlawn
Cemetery. Remains transferred to Cypress Lawn Cemetery, in same box as his
daughter, sometime between 1909 and 1918.
3. Emily Turner (August 10, 1884-January 5, 1890), daughter of Robert and Melissa
Turner. Would have been buried first in one of the San Francisco cemeteries.
4. John Henry Rodgers (July 18, 1867-March 1, 1918), long time lodger with Robert
and Melissa Turner, helped to take care of Robert Turner in his fatal illness, barber,
buried Cypress Lawn Cemetery.
5. Melissa Turner (July 14, 1855-November 11, 1932), wife of Robert Turner. Buried
Cypress Lawn Cemetery
6. Ruby Boone (September 1888-November 11, 1936), wife of Edwin Boone.
7. Edwin Boone (September 26, 1882-January 17, 1937), Melissa Turner was his
godmother and lived with him during her last years.
8. Harriet Hickerson (January 1, 1868-January 5, 1954), mother of Ruby Boone.
First African American to enroll as a Baha'i in the United States
Shoghi Effendi, Guardian of the Bahá'í Faith, designated nineteen Western Bahá'ís as Disciples of 'Abdu'l-Bahá and 'Heralds of the Covenant, one of whom was Robert Turner, the first African-American Baha'i 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 Baha'i Faith by Lua Getsinger in the process of serving tea and remained a devoted believer his entire life.
Sometime before this journey, a photograph of Mr. Turner was sent to Abdu'l-Baha, the leader of the Baha'i Faith at the time. Abdu'l-Baha wrote:
"O thou who art pure in heart, sanctified in spirit, peerless in character, beauteous in face! Thy photograph hath been received revealing thy physical frame in the utmost grace and the best appearance. Thou art dark in countenance and bright in character. Thou art like unto the pupil of the eye which is dark in colour, yet it is the fount of light and the revealer of the contingent world.
I have not forgotten nor will I forget thee. I beseech God that He may graciously make thee the sign of His bounty amidst mankind, illumine thy face with the light of such blessings as are vouchsafed by the merciful Lord, single thee out for His love in this age which is distinguished among all the past ages and centuries." Selections Pg. 114
File records show that the grave plot of Robert Turner is also the burial place of several other members of his family, including his wife and daughter.
Note: Listed in probable order of burial in the grave plot.
1. Catherine Ogden (July 3, 1818- February 11, 1905), mother of Melissa Turner,
mother-in-law of Robert Turner and grandmother of Emily Turner. Catherine Ogden
lived with Robert and Melissa Turner during her last years. Buried Cypress Lawn
Cemetery. The grave plot was probably purchased by Melissa Turner in 1905 to
bury her mother.
2. Robert Turner, (October 15, 1856-June 15, 1909), was first buried in Woodlawn
Cemetery. Remains transferred to Cypress Lawn Cemetery, in same box as his
daughter, sometime between 1909 and 1918.
3. Emily Turner (August 10, 1884-January 5, 1890), daughter of Robert and Melissa
Turner. Would have been buried first in one of the San Francisco cemeteries.
4. John Henry Rodgers (July 18, 1867-March 1, 1918), long time lodger with Robert
and Melissa Turner, helped to take care of Robert Turner in his fatal illness, barber,
buried Cypress Lawn Cemetery.
5. Melissa Turner (July 14, 1855-November 11, 1932), wife of Robert Turner. Buried
Cypress Lawn Cemetery
6. Ruby Boone (September 1888-November 11, 1936), wife of Edwin Boone.
7. Edwin Boone (September 26, 1882-January 17, 1937), Melissa Turner was his
godmother and lived with him during her last years.
8. Harriet Hickerson (January 1, 1868-January 5, 1954), mother of Ruby Boone.
Shoghi Effendi, Guardian of the Bahá'í Faith, designated nineteen Western Bahá'ís as Disciples of 'Abdu'l-Bahá and 'Heralds of the Covenant, one of whom was Robert Turner, the first African-American Baha'i 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 Baha'i Faith by Lua Getsinger in the process of serving tea and remained a devoted believer his entire life.
Sometime before this journey, a photograph of Mr. Turner was sent to Abdu'l-Baha, the leader of the Baha'i Faith at the time. Abdu'l-Baha wrote:
"O thou who art pure in heart, sanctified in spirit, peerless in character, beauteous in face! Thy photograph hath been received revealing thy physical frame in the utmost grace and the best appearance. Thou art dark in countenance and bright in character. Thou art like unto the pupil of the eye which is dark in colour, yet it is the fount of light and the revealer of the contingent world.
I have not forgotten nor will I forget thee. I beseech God that He may graciously make thee the sign of His bounty amidst mankind, illumine thy face with the light of such blessings as are vouchsafed by the merciful Lord, single thee out for His love in this age which is distinguished among all the past ages and centuries." Selections Pg. 114
File records show that the grave plot of Robert Turner is also the burial place of several other members of his family, including his wife and daughter.
Note: Listed in probable order of burial in the grave plot.
1. Catherine Ogden (July 3, 1818- February 11, 1905), mother of Melissa Turner,
mother-in-law of Robert Turner and grandmother of Emily Turner. Catherine Ogden
lived with Robert and Melissa Turner during her last years. Buried Cypress Lawn
Cemetery. The grave plot was probably purchased by Melissa Turner in 1905 to
bury her mother.
2. Robert Turner, (October 15, 1856-June 15, 1909), was first buried in Woodlawn
Cemetery. Remains transferred to Cypress Lawn Cemetery, in same box as his
daughter, sometime between 1909 and 1918.
3. Emily Turner (August 10, 1884-January 5, 1890), daughter of Robert and Melissa
Turner. Would have been buried first in one of the San Francisco cemeteries.
4. John Henry Rodgers (July 18, 1867-March 1, 1918), long time lodger with Robert
and Melissa Turner, helped to take care of Robert Turner in his fatal illness, barber,
buried Cypress Lawn Cemetery.
5. Melissa Turner (July 14, 1855-November 11, 1932), wife of Robert Turner. Buried
Cypress Lawn Cemetery
6. Ruby Boone (September 1888-November 11, 1936), wife of Edwin Boone.
7. Edwin Boone (September 26, 1882-January 17, 1937), Melissa Turner was his
godmother and lived with him during her last years.
8. Harriet Hickerson (January 1, 1868-January 5, 1954), mother of Ruby Boone.
Inscription
Baha'i
Robert C. Turner
1856-1909
Family Members
Children
