1909 (In the year)
190- |
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.
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- Biography; - Births and deaths; - Disciples of `Abdu'l-Bahá; - In Memoriam; California, USA; Firsts, other; Phoebe Hearst; Robert Turner; United States (USA); Virginia, USA |
the first African-American Baha'i |
Canada
