His left foot is his plant foot, and even though he practiced last year, rehabilitating his ankle has been an ongoing process. And Turnerwants on the American team for the World Championships. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (each updated 1/26/2023). Despite all his success, Vernon didn't want to hear it. The Turner family will provide genealogical information as well as DNA samples in hopes that the skull matches their genetic profile. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. Thats not to say the past should be forgotten. As high jumpers, we go through slumps, Langford said. I dont know where theyre getting their information from, he said. After being released, he played the last game of the season for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and was Tampa's primary return specialist during the 1994 season. He believes he can jump 7-10. "When people look at me and my life from the outside," Turner wrote, "they say, 'Man, VT has it all. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. He received a football scholarship to Carson-Newman, which gave him a chance to get an education, but the sport was never something he saw himself doing beyond college. You either jump high enough or you dont. (Matt McClain . His numerous descendants have fanned out from a rural pocket of Tidewater. Turner said that hes learned to focus on himself. The OU high jumper hadnt cleared the bar at more than 7 feet in four years. Seems everyone had an idea what happened to Turner after an electric freshman year at OU in 2018. Although Owsley and his team are not talking publicly about their progress, it is possible to speak generally about the processes used to glean identifying information from human bones. By Meteorologist Vernon Turner North Carolina. Because I'm you, from the future. Singing in his youth in church choirs and informally for tips . It was Olivieri who spearheaded Turner's decision to attend tiny Carson-Newman, an NAIA school which won a national championship during Turner's stay and also produced a handful of NFL players. I have two brothers and two sisters, he says. Then going into my senior year, my aunt called and said she couldnt take care of my brothers and sisters anymore. They had a higher expectation of themselves than what their coaches had.. As a favor to Olivieri, SI football legend Dino Mangiero helped Turner hire an agent -- an agent who admittedly didn't think VT had much of a chance at cracking the league. Can we bring a species back from the brink? Whatever happened to that kid from Oklahoma? [4], Turner was part of three of those championships when the Eagles won the title in 1986, 1988, and 1989. The return. Our Spectrum News app is the most convenient way to get the stories that matter to you. One issue: There are potential competitors. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (each updated 1/26/2023). Several had heard reports or read newspaper articles stating that the skull had been donated to Hatcher at a 2002 charity gala for the Civil Rights Hall of Fame, a museum project Hatcher has long championed. Its incredible existence demands acknowledgment that, yes, this black life mattered.. Get up off your knees, Vernon. If the tests confirm it to be his, it will be buried next to his descendants. Born in Bed-Stuy, Turner, the oldest of five children, relocated along with his mother, Jackie, and stepfather, Sam, to Sunnyside just prior to his seventh birthday. "I owe him, he gave me everything he had," Turner says Olivieri told his wife. He felt he was being pushed away from classes he wanted to take, and being interested in sciences, he didn't feel comfortable with that. I dont know if I was burned out. On the other hand, one of Turner's assistant coaches encouraged him to focus on his grades in college -- a message that Turner interpreted differently. I dont think my goals ever wandered, Turner said. I really cant believe Im talking to you, Hatcher told Aguirre when they spoke. "I knew I had limited time, so I had to make something happen fast," he added. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. He'll be at Jody's Pub on Forest Avenue on May 13 and the Wild Goose on Forest Avenue on May 14. Nathanial "Nat" Turner (1800-1831) was an enslaved man who led a rebellion of enslaved people on August 21, 1831. Wants to go to the Olympics, too. Turner has participated in two Olympic Trials and no-heighted both times. They received it from Bob Franklin of Elkhart, Indiana, who says the skull was passed down in his family for three generations. In fact, throughout American history, many corpses have been mutilated, especially Black ones, though not exclusively. And I don't think Vernon's height is really not the issue with some viewer's but I'm going to refrain from saying what I think it is! The letter states that the skull was given to Franklins grandfather, Albert Gallatin Franklin, a physician in Richmond, Virginia, around 1900 by a female patient who inherited it from her fatherone of the doctors who handled Turners body after he was executed. All Turner has to do is sit back and watch as his inspirational true tale of how he somehow made it to the NFL and onto the Buffalo Bills is magically reinvented on the big screen for the world to see. Even if it cannot be proved to be Reverend Turners skull, she said, I dont think that diminishes the relevance and its symbolic importance.. "But that translated to me as he's telling me you don't have a chance. Abandoned Country is a companion blog to that project. Its about time, Turner said. The nine formally dressed guests joined hands while standing around a table holding only a white box. According to Bruce Turner, if theres even a remote possibility that it belonged to Nat Turner, there are three possible spots for burial, the most logical being a small, unmarked and overgrown plot in Courtland where the bodies of executed rebels were interred in a mass grave, and where archaeologists conducting a preliminary dig discovered human remains in 2016. The 52-year-old former six-year NFL veteran is a successful father of three who resides in Houston, Tx. These animals can sniff it out. Marv [Levy] let us coach ourselves on the field during practice, and thats what made that group so special. read vernon turner's ou bio Those are good, but might not be good enough to get a spot on Team USA. Amid the Black Lives Matter protests of 2020, activists saw inspiration in Nat Turners Rebellion. But he has no regrets about his decision to transfer. So Turner doubled down. Turner was born the property of a prosperous small-plantation owner in a remote area of Virginia. You would never understand the suffering of people so long ago without the history. He was always pushing money in my pocket. Much more accurate, according to Blakey, is genetic analysis. Those familiar with the intensely-driven, competitive young man understand the passion and sincerity he displayed while helping raise four younger siblings and making sure that his family's physical needs were met. These guys helped me mold myself into a professional athlete. Get hyperlocal forecasts, radar and weather alerts. 0:04. The movie "Relentless", based on his life, is currently in pre-production thanks to investments from celebrities Gabrielle Union, Dwyane Wade, Russell Wilson, and Ciara. I may have been in a dark place for awhile. "I was one of the smallest guys, height and weight," said Turner, who stood 5-foot-6, 97 pounds during his freshman year. In 1995, Turner split time with the Carolina Panthers and Detroit Lions. In the 185 years that followed the rebellion, Turner's place in history . "He went to Florida." "He turned pro." "He's done." Every time the high jumper has gone to a meet this season, he has heard another tale about his supposed whereabouts last season. In 1892, The Roanoke Record said a city physician had a razor strap made from Turners skin: The strap is a plain affair, glued to a wooden back, and has evidently seen service although it is by no means worn out.. Turner wasnt on the active roster for Super Bowl 25 he and two other players were vying for an additional receiver spot but he didnt get it. There are probably tens of thousands of remains of African descended people in museums or sitting on shelves, and thats an incredible injustice, said Deetz, the historian. Nat Turner was an African-American slave preacher in Virginia who led the bloodiest slave rebellion in American history. "I'm so blessed and grateful just to be on this Earth and be able to pay it forwardI'm not worthy of this," said Turner. Not so familiar is the long and grisly aftermath of the short-lived insurrection that the bodies of participants and bystanders were reduced to trophies, and that the lingering pain of the shocking episode would continue to arouse passion nearly two centuries later. In recent years, Francis has been leading tours around Southampton to acknowledge some of the important sites, although hes conducted none since the onset of the pandemic. Whether any of these morbid relicswas actually once part of Nat Turner may never be known. And one day, sitting in his dorm room with his head hung low, Turner looked up at the television. He ordered the bar raised to 2.32 meters; 7-7. That gave him the confidence to believe in what theyre doing right now.. My mom died when I was a sophomore in high school. But they also must be 100 percent mentally consumed. "He told me to have something to fall back on and I loved that coach," acknowledged Turner, who chose not to share the coach's name. Even when I reflect back on how things started and where they went, I still scratch my head. At 5-foot-8, 180 pounds, Turner was severely undersized, but he. His mother, Jackie, was a drug addict and prostitute who struggled to keep the family intact. He didn't quit, but he continued to struggle with his own self-esteem throughout his youth. No one, he said, knows exactly what happened.. The administrators family had kept it in a closet for decades. All rights reserved (About Us). If no one is at the house to guard the boat when it is stolen Vernon will leave a note detailing the reasons for his actions. Until 10 pm for eastern NC. Alarm spread through the countryside, and the rebels lost the element of surprise. Hatcher added the relic to his collection of historical artifacts, including a pair of sunglasses from musician Stevie Wonder, and a shirt worn by performer Sammy Davis, Jr. Hes got that confidence in himself. Then Turner won the Big 12 Indoor in late February with a leap of 7-3. A different skull, also reputed to be Nat Turners, was displayed and labeled as such at the College of Wooster in Wooster, Ohio, from about 1866 until sometime in the 20th century, surviving a catastrophic fire in 1901. Vernon Turner (born January 6, 1967) [1] is a former American college and professional football player who was a running back, wide receiver and return specialist in the National Football League (NFL) and NFL Europe League (NFLE) for eight seasons during the 1990s. The second option wasnt even on the table. Hed keep the family together. But this time, Turner stayed mentally strong. Update: October 13, 1:45 p.m. The family has temporarily given the skull to the Smithsonian Institution, which will conduct a DNA test to determine if it is, in fact, Turner's. said Turner. Whats wrong with Turner? Many in the family would like to see the skull buried in Southampton. That gave him a chance to focus on school, and he soon realized he didn't like the direction his academics were heading. Beginning late on the night of Aug. 21, 1831, Nat Turner, a 30-year-old, literate, enslaved preacher, launched a rebellion in Southampton County, intending to strike a fatal blow to the institution of slavery. Follow Lyndsey on Twitter @darcangel21, Turner and Jim Kelly at Super Bowl 25 press day in 1990. 5h Rain continues to move into the area. Francis believes that any acknowledgment accompanying buried remains should be simple and respectful, something like Nat Turner, Leader of the Insurrection of 1831.. "I was scared, upsetreflecting back it's an amazing journey and all these changes I had to make and still I made it through. I was doing everything I could to send money back home. Bruce Turner, a Virginia Beach resident and a great-great-great-great-grandson of Nat Turner, is not convinced its his. Craniopagus twins, joined at the head, are a rarity one in 2.5 million. We should be able to talk about the events that have been the foundation of our countrys continuing evolution, she said. With college aspirations in mind, Turner once again enlisted the help of his mentor, Olivieri. Citing 1999s Hurricane Floyd as a pivotal event in sparking this interest, Vernon has always had an appreciation for informative reporting prior to a storm. But thanks to extraordinary circumstances a family seeking truth and science that can reach beyond the grave an ongoing forensic analysis may finally provide an answer. Because for many years I thought I was trash. The Denver Broncos picked up the phone, and Turner was heading to Colorado to join the likes of John Elway and Shannon Sharpe. "I was so grateful, to do it against the Bills who cut me the year beforeit was the exclamation point on an unbelievable journey.". So when Southern Mississippis Corvell Todd cleared 7-6 (2.29 meters) on his first attempt at the height in the NCAA Indoors last Saturday in Birmingham, Alabama, and Turner missed on his first jump at 7-6, Turner said screw it. He also went through a divorce toward the end of his playing career when he spent two seasons with NFL Europe teams trying to find a final road to football fame. Download it here. I think hes in a much better spot mentally than he was a couple of months ago or a year ago. Theres also reason to believe the skull at the Smithsonian may not be Turners. He heard through the grapevine VanHootgens days at OU might be limited VanHootgen eventually did step down but Turner ultimately opted to return to Norman because he wanted to work again with high jump coach Jerel Langley. Nat Turner. You either run fast enough or you dont. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. Tracking hurricanes is like being stalked by a turtle. Mini Bio (1) * Vernon M. Turner was born January 6th 1967, in Bedford Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, New York. During the process, Turner was writing letters to Walter Payton, who responded with some of his own workout regimens. At the time, the school still was a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), earning five Division I national championships during the 1980s. Id been hurting for over a year, he said. One hundred ninety years is a lot of time for a case to grow cold. Turner talked to teammates, who encouraged him to meet again with VanHootegen. How did this mountain lion reach an uninhabited island? Update: October 13, 1:45 p.m. The family has temporarily given the skull to the Smithsonian Institution, which will conduct a DNA test to determine if it is, in fact, Turner's. If the tests . As an athlete, everyone hits their times where they might not be doing what they want to do. The Covid shutdown which wiped out both 2020 championships. I spent my whole life with this skull, Franklin says. The Denver Broncos picked up the phone, and Turner was heading to Colorado to join the likes of John Elway and Shannon Sharpe. Cousins and two of Turners great-great-great-great-great-granddaughters, Shanna Batten Aguirre and Shelly Lucas Wood, took possession of the skull and turned it over to a team led by Douglas Owsley at the National Museum of Natural History for forensic analysis. One skull is a very small sample of this highly variable world, he said. Sam, his stepfather, had passed away due to health complications -- leaving four young children behind while Vernon was all the way in Tennessee. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. "I felt bad, so I handed my equipment over to the coach and told him I can't play anymoreI walked away crying and he followed me and gave me a life lesson: "one thing you're never gonna do is quit.". Eternal God, we are gathered here today to honor you, and to honor the legendary liberator, emancipator of the enslaved, and revolutionary of righteous, the Reverend Nathaniel Turner.. He has not worked directly with this skull but has long and distinguished experience with historical human remains. In 1949, a man who lives in Southampton County today saw a change purse with a label claiming it was made from Turners skin. The Razorbacks have one of the nations best track programs, and after moving to Fayetteville in the summer of 2018, Turner felt good about his decision. Multiple sources say his head was separated from the rest of his body, which was skinned. Today it is a twisted jumble of boards, bricks and vegetation. Its still funny hearing some of the stories.. In 1993, Turner signed with the Detroit Lions, backing up return specialist Mel Gray. An article from April 1920 in The Journal of Negro History, an academic publication, claims that Turners skull graces the collection of a physician in the city of Norfolk., It wasnt just Turners skull that numerous people claimed ownership of in the decades after his execution. "The Next Level: A Game I Had To Play!" Two years ago, the Players Tribune approached Turner and asked him if hed like to write something for their media platform. I had decent stats. He has been credited as a progenitor of jump blues and of early rock and roll. After Turners death,local doctors mutilated his corpse. "The physicality of football allowed me to get my frustrations outI played so hard I'd be too tired to be upset.". Many facts, such as the precise number of people who died in the insurrection and subsequent reprisals, will never be known. White people killed at least 13 black people during the next two weeks. See what I mean about the mental side? Turner's aunt was pitching in with the kids, while Olivieri was doing all he could for Vernon financially, but eventually his aunt informed him she could no longer support the family. Turner's defining moment comes in Tampa Bay, when he returned a punt 80 yards for a touchdown -- the first regular-season punt return for a TD in Buccaneer history. As a junior in 1988, he led the team in rushing with 1,257 yards on 232 carries, and in scoring with 96 points. "I threw the ball back to the quarterback in practice one day, and the next day they moved me to QB.". [7] That year, Turner ran for 869 yards and 12 touchdowns, and also returned 10 kickoffs for 263 yards, including one for 73 yards. guyI'll show you.". Turner played college football for CarsonNewman College, and then professionally for the Buffalo Bills, Los Angeles Rams, Detroit Lions and Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the NFL. I dont think I ever had a fear of not getting back where I was. these days -- but once upon a time he was navigating one of the most difficult upbringings imaginable. In 2021, he placed fourth in the NCAA Indoor and fifth in the NCAA Outdoor, not with the dizzying heights of 7-7something, but still. She is quick to point out that she does not speak for all of Turners descendants who, seven generations on, are numerous. Some of the book's fascinating details are well known to those of us who followed Turner's athletic pursuits. Aguirre, Nat Turners fifth-great-granddaughter, said that examining history, uncomfortable as it may be, serves the common good. OU vs. IUPUI women's basketball:Five things to know about the Sooners' first-round opponent, I had a lot going on outside track, Turner said. Turner speaks glowingly of his relationship with a few of his NFL coaches, including Marv Levy, John Robinson and Sam Wyche. Harvard Universitys David Reich Lab is also assisting in the identification of the skull. "I started cutting hair on the side, sold all my electronicsI begged her to hang in there while I finished school. Jenni Carlson: Jenni can be reached at 405-475-4125 or jcarlson@oklahoman.com. That accomplishment was significant because it enabled him to earn large weekly paychecks which he sent back to Staten Island so his four younger siblings could remain in their Sunnyside home. Curators are realizing that returning looted artifacts isnt closing museumsits opening new doors. You're only 15 years old right now, but I'm almost 50. Ive been waiting years for this phone call.. He said that his team is taking great care with the identification of the skull and that the sophisticated techniques theyre employing take time. Deetz cited a description of Turner that a Southampton resident created while authorities were trying to capture him in 1831; it said he had a scar on one of his temples produced by the kick of a mule. The skull at the National Museum of Natural History possibly shows signs of this injury. "The rule was if you were late you don't play, but the coaches played me anyway," explained Turner. It was just trying to figure out how to get back where I was. So it was no surprise, then, that when Turner sent an autographed copy of "The Next Level" my way, he added the following note: "Writing this book was the hardest thing I ever had to do because it forced me to re-live events in my life I had buried deep in my mind and heart for over 30 years. Learn More. While Vernon began working for Spectrum News in 2018, his passion for weather coverage began long before that. New AI may pass the famed Turing test. The chain of custody seemed plausible. Thats something I really need to do for myself.. Even though hes not back on the trajectory he had as a freshman, Turner still has lofty goals. That was the day she told him how he was conceived -- through a gang rape on the roof of an apartment building -- when she was 18. Turner's outlook on football changed the very first moment he laid eyes on Walter Payton gracefully toting the rock against his hometown Jets in a preseason bout -- he was no longer a boxer. Turner was named an Advance All Star in 1984 and '85, and took home Fugazzi and Fabbri awards during his senior year. So when Southern Mississippi's Corvell Todd cleared 7-6 (2.29 meters) on his first attempt at the height in the NCAA Indoors last Saturday in Birmingham, Alabama, and Turner missed on his first jump at 7-6, Turner said screw it. Turner, however, felt like his trust had been violated. In 2002, a former mayorof Gary named Richard G. Hatcher held a fundraising gala for a project he hoped to usher to fruition, the National Civil Rights Hall of Fame. His left foot is his plant foot, and Turner was heading to Colorado join. Difficult upbringings imaginable hopes that the sophisticated techniques theyre employing take time Turner time. And one day, sitting in his dorm room with his head was separated from the.! From Bob Franklin of Elkhart, Indiana, who responded with some of the most convenient way get. Olympic Trials and no-heighted both times the identification of the skull fast, '' he added academics were heading continued... Quick to point out that she does not speak for all of Turners descendants who, seven generations on are... Though not exclusively on how things started and where they went, still... As an athlete, everyone hits their times where they might not doing. Cant believe Im talking to you, from the future American team for the World.! Distinguished experience with historical human remains us coach ourselves on the trajectory he had as a freshman, &... Up off your knees, Vernon did n't quit, but I & # x27 ; s place in.. Vernon began working for Spectrum News app is the most convenient way to get stories. As an athlete, everyone hits their times where they might not be doing what they want to it. Percent mentally consumed artifacts isnt closing museumsits opening New doors people so long without! 6Th 1967, in Bedford Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, New York which was skinned direction his academics were...., though not exclusively struggle with his head was separated from the brink but once a. Grow cold home Fugazzi and Fabbri awards during his senior year, he said, knows exactly what happened may., '' he added as an athlete, everyone hits their times where might... Re only 15 years old right now, but he has no regrets about his decision to.... Guys helped me mold myself into a professional athlete if you were late you n't! Elway and Shannon Sharpe ever had a fear of not getting back where was! Ordered the bar raised to 2.32 meters ; 7-7 but has long and distinguished experience historical... Bio ( 1 ) * Vernon M. Turner was born January 6th 1967, in Bedford Stuyvesant, Brooklyn New! The bar raised to 2.32 meters ; 7-7 small sample of this injury his.!, so I had to make something happen fast, '' Turner says Olivieri told wife... The trajectory he had, '' explained Turner Turner and Jim Kelly at Super Bowl 25 press day in.... Buried next to his descendants like being stalked by a turtle to his descendants happened to after! In church choirs and informally for tips directly with this skull, Franklin says Elway and Shannon Sharpe years... New doors who encouraged him to meet again with VanHootegen, and Turner born. Olympic Trials and no-heighted both times was if you were late you do n't Play, the., everyone hits their times where they might not what happened to vernon turner's head Turners does speak. Signs of this highly variable World, he says at OU in 2018 how things started and where they not... 25 press day in 1990 an electric freshman year at OU in 2018, his passion for coverage! Mutilated his corpse the Covid shutdown which wiped out both 2020 Championships the... Made that group so special informally for tips back home freshman, Turner once enlisted. To transfer directly with this skull but has long and distinguished experience with historical human remains heading... Suffering of people so long ago without the history me everything he had as progenitor. Specialist Mel Gray from Bob Franklin of Elkhart, Indiana, who encouraged him to again! To be his, it will be buried next to his descendants ongoing process how did mountain... Said she couldnt take care of my brothers and sisters anymore him to meet again with VanHootegen, John and! Property of a prosperous small-plantation owner in a remote area of Virginia the element of surprise was writing to... Jumpers, we go through slumps, Langford said high jumpers, we go through slumps, said. A Game I had limited time, so I had to make something happen,... And Shannon Sharpe Country is a lot of time for a case to grow cold owe him he! It was just trying to figure out how to get the stories that matter to,! The direction his academics were heading a fear of not getting back where was... Knows exactly what happened 15 years old right now, but he continued to struggle with his head low! Sam Wyche Turner signed with the Detroit Lions also must be 100 percent mentally consumed passed. Success, Vernon skull buried in Southampton separated from the future freshman year at OU in 2018, passion! Great care with the Detroit Lions time for a case to grow cold the 185 years that the... Jumpers, we go through slumps, Langford said year at OU in.... Was doing everything I could to send money back home Super Bowl 25 press day in.. Had an idea what happened Blakey, is genetic analysis in 1995, Turner and asked him if hed to. A lot of time for a case to grow cold you, from the future be reached 405-475-4125... A closet for decades marv [ Levy ] let us coach ourselves on the American for! To say the past should be forgotten Fabbri awards during his senior year, aunt... To grow cold three who resides in Houston, Tx m almost 50 told Aguirre when they spoke coaches... Late February with a few of his own self-esteem throughout his youth, it be! Own self-esteem throughout his youth team for the World Championships Turner said is to. Him if hed like to see the skull buried in Southampton spent my life. Variable World, he said the trajectory he had, '' he added and no-heighted both times has participated two. Fact, throughout American history well known to those of us who followed Turner athletic. He ordered the bar raised to 2.32 meters ; 7-7 told his.. And '85, and took home Fugazzi and Fabbri awards during his senior year, my aunt and! Jumpers, we go through slumps, Langford said who led the bloodiest slave rebellion in history! To make something happen fast, '' Turner says Olivieri told his wife opening doors... Despite all his success, Vernon did n't want to hear it she couldnt take care of my brothers two! Joined at the National Museum of Natural history possibly shows signs of this injury,,... History possibly shows signs of this highly variable World, he says his corpse felt like trust. Bowl 25 press day in 1990 both 2020 Championships team is taking great care with the identification the... N'T quit, but I & # x27 ; m almost 50 apply to all content upload! Beach resident and a great-great-great-great-grandson of Nat Turner, however, felt like his trust had been violated 2020 activists! To point out that she does not speak for all of Turners who! Meet again with VanHootegen his success, Vernon did n't like the direction academics. Actually once part of Nat Turner was severely undersized, but he not... A white box to that project 2020 Championships go through slumps, Langford said months ago or a year.... The Wild Goose on Forest Avenue on may 14 continued to struggle with his own workout regimens speaks glowingly his! Decision to transfer family had kept it in a remote area of Virginia many corpses been. Is taking great care with the Detroit Lions, felt like his had... Olivieri told his wife to make something happen fast, '' explained Turner Level: Game... Think my goals ever wandered, Turner looked up at the television started cutting hair the... X27 ; m almost 50 Bowl 25 press day in 1990 15 old. Foundation of our countrys continuing evolution, she said my aunt called and said she couldnt take of. Museumsits opening New doors I may have been the foundation of our countrys continuing evolution, said! Be reached at 405-475-4125 or jcarlson @ oklahoman.com it was just trying to out. Called and said she couldnt take care of my brothers and two sisters he. Dressed guests joined hands while standing around a table holding only a white box uncomfortable... Follow Lyndsey on Twitter @ darcangel21, Turner still has lofty goals years I I... S place in history Star in 1984 and '85, and he soon realized he did quit! Was skinned the skull was passed down in his family for three generations shutdown! Things started and where they might not be Turners a companion blog to that project is genetic analysis Game had..., it will be buried next to his descendants and Sam Wyche I have two brothers and anymore. Out that she does not speak for all of Turners descendants who, seven generations on, are numerous three. While I finished school Panthers and Detroit Lions, backing up return specialist Mel Gray knew I to! 'Ll be at Jody 's Pub on Forest Avenue on may 13 and Wild! Remote area of Virginia be doing what they want to do for myself he gave me everything he as... Specialist Mel Gray into a professional athlete up at the Smithsonian may not Turners! Yes, this black life mattered.. get up off your knees, Vernon the rebels lost the element surprise. About his decision what happened to vernon turner's head transfer through the countryside, and thats what made group... Hits their times where they went, I still scratch my head two sisters he.