Rev. Dr. Kellie C. Turner

The Rev Doctor Kellie C. Turner is a native of Dallas,Texas born to Chester Curry Jr., and Junella Turner. She inherited the ability to sing from her mother who raised her. She began singing at an early age while attending church with her mother. Her talents as an organist were recognized around the same time and consequently, Dr. Kellie became the organist for the New El Bethel Baptist Church in her early teens. She grew up watching movies and developed a love for the performing arts as well as her love for church. She attended the Alex W. Spence Middle School for Talented and Gifted Students. 

Her association with the school landed her her first of several movies for the local PBS station in Dallas. Continuing her involvement in the Arts and weekly responsibilities for church, Kellie enrolled at The Arts Magnet High School for the Performing Arts at Booker T. Washington. Her focus was split between the music and theater departments. 

She was introduced to the world of jazz while at Arts Magnet and toured with The Lab singers, the school's jazz ensemble. She also was a  member of the Chamber Choir. She graduated as a Theatre major, National Honors Student and Who's Who Among American High School Students.  Upon graduation, Kellie enrolled at Pepperdine University in Malibu, California. She took courses in Broadcasting before deciding on committing once again to the Theatre. She also kept her musical abilities honed by taking  vocal studies in university and attending Cornerstone Institutional Baptist Church on the weekends under the leadership of Gospel great Rev. James Cleveland. Kellie was able to learn gospel music from the likes of Rev. Cleveland, Kurt Carr, Calvin Rhone, and Quincy Fielding Jr.  

Upon completion of her studies at Pepperdine, Dr. Kellie briefly became a flight  attendant and also spent a year in Europe before moving permanently to the East Coast making New York City her home. This decision allowed Kellie to have an extensive career in the arts while still staying connected to the church. She has toured the world spreading the good news through song. 

 

Kellie has sung with the Harlem Gospel Choir on their tours for the armed forces in Japan and Korea. She toured with them as a singer then moved up to Music Director and traveled with them throughout New Zealand, Australia, Italy and the Caribbean. She has also toured with Queen Esther Marrow and Rev. Charles Lyles and the world-famous Harlem Gospel Singers. She was choir director on their "Movin On" tour which toured Germany,  Budapest, France, The Netherlands, Austria, Switzerland, and the Slovak  Republic. Kellie has served as Interim Director of Music for the Canaan  Baptist Church of Christ under the pastorate of civil rights leader and former  Chief of Staff to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Rev. Dr. Wyatt Tee Walker, Sr. in Harlem, New York. She was on staff and served as Praise and Worship  Leader at Metropolitan Baptist Church in Newark, New Jersey under the  pastorate of Rev. Dr. David Jefferson, Sr. She was the Director of Music at  Fountain Spring Baptist Church under the pastorate of Rev. Nelson C. Dukes, Jr. 

 

In 2010, Kellie accepted her call into the Ministry and was licensed under  the Fellowship of Affirming Ministries by the Presiding Prelate of TFAM,  Bishop, Rev. Dr. Yvette A. Flunder. Dr. Kellie has served as Minister of Music at Rivers of Living Water United Church of Christ where the Pastor is Rev. Dr. Vanessa M. Brown. She has  served as Church Organist at Living Water United Church of Christ under the  leadership of Bishop Dwayne Royster in Philadelphia, PA. She became part of Historic Trinity United Church of Christ under the leadership of Rev. Dr. Larry Covin Jr., as part of her field study while attending Lancaster Theological Seminary in Lancaster, PA. After receiving her Masters of Divinity degree, Dr. Turner continued her education by pursuing her doctoral degree at Drew University in Madison, New Jersey. During her studies, and subsequent conferrance of Doctor of Ministry degree, Dr. Turner was elevated to the position of Assistant Pastor as well as Minister of Music and Arts.

Following Dr. Covin’s retirement, Dr. Kellie was voted to succeed Dr. Covin as Senior Pastor. Dr. Turner, during her time at historic Trinity, went through and completed the entire ecclesiastical process for the United Church of Christ and was approved by the local association, and conference as being a full fledged United Church of Christ minister.   

 

Dr. Kellie continues to be involved in the arts and ministry and is embracing the duality and intersectionality of them both. The greatest Creator and Artist called each of us to be earthly creatives in one way or another, therefore, create in love, create in kindness, create in care, create in excellence, leaving this planet emptied out after having completed your assignments.  

 

Grace and peace beloved.

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