Champaign County remembers youth mentor, community pillar

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) — People across Champaign County are mourning the loss of a community mentor. Devon Wayne Turner died Wednesday at the age of 49. He spent a majority of those years helping youth in the area.

Turner’s family emphasized how he showed up for people. That showing was returned when the block to his home was filled with cars as family and friends remembered him.

“We both started out in the Boys and Girls Club. Well, it was the Boys Club at first before the Boys and Girls Club. They taught us to pay it forward,” Turner’s uncle, Carlos Harvey, said.

And that’s exactly what Devon Wayne Turner did. He became a pillar in his own community by filling in a familiar gap.

“He saw the cycle of young people getting themselves in trouble; The cycle of young people going down the wrong path in life,” friend Craig Williams said.

He started mentoring young boys in the area, becoming a father figure to many of them.

“Being able to show that support and that love is very powerful to young people. It makes them change,” Williams said.

Turner was involved with his cousin’s group, First String, before starting his own: Boyz2Men.

“He wanted to take his son to see a movie and a couple of youngsters wanted to go with him,” Harvey said.

But the inspiration Turner was spreading was touching more than the youth he taught. He was also setting an example for the people standing next to him.

“He was the point guard and we were pretty much the team players,” Harvey said. “He had, like, 40 young men at the time and that was eye-opening for me. So that helped me and motivated me to get started on the vision I had planned.”

They say while Turner may no longer be here to continue his mission, it will go on through them.

“I’m going to try to keep it up with him, and try to help people out,” said Lamont Pete, Turner’s cousin. “But I don’t think I can do it like he’d done it.”

“That raised the bar, so that’s why I tie my shoes up tight and get up and go every day, to see if I can help save a soul or two,” Williams said.

The Champaign School District released the following statement:

We are deeply saddened and stunned by the sudden and unexpected passing of Mr. Devon Turner. Through his work at Unit 4 schools as a hall monitor and student support advocate, he built strong relationships with students and staff. He was a pillar in the community and well known through his work as a Youth League coach. The district has activated its trauma response team to provide appropriate support to staff members and students who are impacted by Mr. Turner’s death. Our heartfelt sympathy and thoughts are with his family, friends and the Central H.S. community.

Champaign Unit 4 School District

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