Justice For All

It’s always nice to see former colleagues; some I haven’t seen for years. I just wish we didn’t have to lose a friend for that chance. We gathered to pay tribute to Susan Turner. I met Susan in 1989. We worked together as social workers, trainers, and supervisors in two counties. She had such a solid faith in God that I always admired. She was no doubt the smartest person I’ve ever known. I think she told me once what her IQ was but I’ve forgotten; it was high. Like really high. But you wouldn’t know that because she didn’t act like she was smarter. You knew it when you asked her about a specific state regulation or Juvenile Court law and she could not only tell you where to find it but recite it for you. She was also an amazingly dedicated wife and mother. When she said “in good times and in bad” as part of her wedding vows she meant it. And she lived it. Susan loved the color red so her service had shades of red everywhere. She fought a good fight; she was told she had 6 months to live and she far surpassed that. She also had some earthly angels that supported her on that journey.

When we were social workers together our unit had a fun little practice of passing around this “Justice ball” every time a worker had a hard fought fight in court and won or had a case with a good outcome due to their efforts. In this second picture Susan is a brand new social worker straight out of college (far right) and I’m pregnant with Kiley. That justice ball is hanging on my big belly. I still have that silly ball. I wish I could give it to Susan, because she fought her whole life for justice. Justice for her clients, her staff, her family, her friends and her faith. Thank you Susan for always being such a great example for me of someone who never gave up on anything, or anyone ❤️