Patricia Turner
Civil rights pioneer and educator Patricia Turner was born on October 11, 1944 in Norfolk, Virginia. Her father, James Turner, was a Navy Master Chief Petty Officer. Her brother, James Turner Jr., was two years younger than her and also a member of The Norfolk 17. In 1959, five years after Brown v. Board of Education, Turner and her brother entered Norview Junior High School, a previously all-white school. The siblings were two of the five students who attended Norview Junior High that year. After finishing eighth grade, Turner went to Norview High School where she graduated near the top of her class of over 400 seniors. She worked as a nurse before moving to Pennsylvania where she worked for the Thomas Jefferson Hospital. She then moved back to Virginia and worked for Dr. Robert Johnson, a pediatrician.
She continued her education and attended Norfolk State University where she earned her B.S. degree in mathematics. She also received her M.S. degree in education from Old Dominion University and took classes toward a Ph.D. degree at the College of William and Mary. After obtaining her undergraduate degree, Turner began working for Norfolk Public Schools as a math teacher, teaching curriculum to sixth and seventh graders. She taught until her retirement in 2008. However, that same year she became the Director of Oakwood Academy. In 2009, she along with the other surviving members of the Norfolk 17 returned to Norview High School to celebrate the 50th anniversary of “massive resistance.”
For her work as an educator, she received many accolades, including her Honorary Doctorate in humane letters from Old Dominion University. She also received the School Bell Award in Education in 2000 and 2002. Turner is a member of the Black Press Hall of Fame.
Patricia Turner was interviewed by The HistoryMakers on May 14, 2010.
A2010.022
Female
5/14/2010
Turner
Norview Middle School
Norview High School
Norfolk State University
Old Dominion University
The College of William & Mary
Patricia
Norfolk
TUR06
Spring
Virginia
Bahamas
Education Is The Key To Success.

District of Columbia
10/11/1944
Washington
USA
Carrots
Middle school teacher Patricia Turner (1944 - ) was a member of the Norfolk 17, who were instrumental in the desegregation of Virginia and the South.
Norfolk Public Schools
Oakwood Academy
Blue
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/628072">Tape: 1 Slating of Patricia Turner's interview</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/628073">Tape: 1 Patricia Turner lists her favorites</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/628074">Tape: 1 Patricia Turner describes her mother's family background</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/628075">Tape: 1 Patricia Turner describes her mother's upbringing</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/628076">Tape: 1 Patricia Turner talks about her father's name</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/628077">Tape: 1 Patricia Turner describes her family's relation to Nat Turner</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/628078">Tape: 1 Patricia Turner talks about the history of Nat Turner</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/628079">Tape: 1 Patricia Turner remembers her father's career in the U.S. Navy</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/628080">Tape: 1 Patricia Turner lists her siblings</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/628081">Tape: 1 Patricia Turner describes her earliest childhood memories</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/628082">Tape: 2 Patricia Turner remembers segregation in Norfolk, Virginia</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/628083">Tape: 2 Patricia Turner describes her parents' personalities and who she takes after</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/628084">Tape: 2 Patricia Turner recalls her early education</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/628085">Tape: 2 Patricia Turner remembers Oakwood Elementary School in Norfolk, Virginia</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/628086">Tape: 2 Patricia Turner describes her paternal grandmother, pt. 1</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/628087">Tape: 2 Patricia Turner describes her paternal grandmother, pt. 2</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/628088">Tape: 2 Patricia Turner talks about her sheltered upbringing</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/628089">Tape: 2 Patricia Turner remembers her decision to join the Norfolk 17</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/628090">Tape: 2 Patricia Turner remembers recalls the tests to join the Norfolk 17</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/628091">Tape: 3 Patricia Turner remembers attending school at First Baptist Bute Street in Norfolk, Virginia</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/628092">Tape: 3 Patricia Turner recalls the Norfolk 17's training by the NAACP</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/628093">Tape: 3 Patricia Turner remembers the walk to Norview Junior High School in Norfolk, Virginia, pt. 1</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/628094">Tape: 3 Patricia Turner remembers the walk to Norview Middle School in Norfolk, Virginia, pt. 2</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/628095">Tape: 3 Patricia Turner recalls the traumatic effect of the protests against the Norfolk 17</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/628096">Tape: 3 Patricia Turner remembers her high school homeroom teacher</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/628097">Tape: 4 Patricia Turner talks about Hal J. Bonney, Jr., pt. 1</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/628098">Tape: 4 Patricia Turner talks about Hal J. Bonney, Jr., pt. 2</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/628099">Tape: 4 Patricia Turner remembers the janitor at Norview High School in Norfolk, Virginia</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/628100">Tape: 4 Patricia Turner recalls her black classmates at Norview High School in Norfolk, Virginia</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/628101">Tape: 4 Patricia Turner remembers the kindness of the African American cafeteria workers at Norview High School</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/628102">Tape: 4 Patricia Turner recalls how her fellow students treated her at Norview High School, pt. 1</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/628103">Tape: 4 Patricia Turner recalls how her fellow students treated her at Norview High School, pt. 2</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/628104">Tape: 4 Patricia Turner remembers her social interactions with the Norfolk 17</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/628105">Tape: 4 Patricia Turner recalls a high school class reunion, pt. 1</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/628106">Tape: 5 Patricia Turner recalls a high school class reunion, pt. 2</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/628107">Tape: 5 Patricia Turner remembers her time on Norview High School field hockey team</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/628108">Tape: 5 Patricia Turner recalls her struggles after high school, pt. 1</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/628109">Tape: 5 Patricia Turner recalls her struggles after high school, pt. 2</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/628110">Tape: 5 Patricia Turner describes her nursing career in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/628111">Tape: 5 Patricia Turner talks about the psychological effects of her high school experiences</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/628112">Tape: 5 Patricia Turner remembers ending her career in nursing</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/628113">Tape: 6 Patricia Turner describes her teaching career</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/628114">Tape: 6 Patricia Turner talks about her philosophy of education</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/628115">Tape: 6 Patricia Turner describes her speaking engagements</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/628116">Tape: 6 Patricia Turner reflects upon her life</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/628117">Tape: 6 Patricia Turner describes her hopes for the African American community</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/628118">Tape: 6 Patricia Turner reflects upon her legacy</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/628119">Tape: 6 Patricia Turner talks about her family</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/628120">Tape: 6 Patricia Turner describes how she would like to be remembered</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/628121">Tape: 7 Patricia Turner narrates her photographs, pt. 1</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/628122">Tape: 7 Patricia Turner narrates her photographs, pt. 2</a>
1$1
3$4
4$7