JUDGE KENNETH A. TURNER, 79, lifelong Memphis resident and Juvenile Court Judge of Memphis and Shelby County, died February 12, 2008 at his residence. Visitation will be from 5-8 p.m. Friday, February 15, and funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, February 16, both to be held at Memphis Funeral Home Poplar. Burial in Elmwood Cemetery. His survivors include his wife, Mary Sue Ballard Turner; a daughter, Dr. Joy Maness and a son-in-law, Jerry Maness, all of Memphis. Judge Turner is a native Memphian. Twice he served in the U.S. Marine Corps. He attained the rank of Captain while a police officer for 13 years. He has a law degree from the University of Memphis, a Doctor of Laws (honorary) from Christian Brothers University, and a degree (honorary) in the Administration of Justice from Wichita State University. He was the first Executive Director of the Memphis and Shelby County Youth Guidance Commission. In November 1963, he was first elected Judge of the Juvenile Court. Without opposition, Judge Turner has regularly been re-elected Judge of the Juvenile Court of Memphis and Shelby County. He is an active member of the Tennessee and National Councils of Juvenile and Family Court Judges. Judge Turner is the author of "Juvenile Justice" published in 1969 by the Michie Company, the first comprehensive work on juvenile court problems and procedures. He has written numerous articles dealing with child support enforcement, the prevention and treatment of crime and delinquency, and mental health services for delinquent and unruly juveniles. He was a pioneer in privatization of services to children which, traditionally, were administered by state and local governments. He authored and sponsored legislation which revised and updated Tennessee's child labor laws, thus providing more job opportunities for young people. To provide worthwhile employment for idle, trouble-prone youth, he also pioneered youth employment programs in Shelby County, and formed the first Youth Conservation Corps in 1962. He abolished institutional emergency shelter of dependent and neglected children, and initiated a novel and highly successful plan whereby dependent and neglected children brought to the Juvenile Court for shelter are immediately in suitable family homes pending investigation and Court disposition. He originated in 1965, the used of summonses by law enforcement agencies, in lieu of making physical arrest of juveniles charged with law violations, if in the discretion of the officer, the juvenile would not endanger others or be harmed himself if not taken into custody. He created several volunteer programs, enlisting citizen participation on a large scale and organized the first Juvenile Court volunteer probation service. The Auxiliary Probation Service of the Juvenile Court of Memphis and Shelby County, as organized in 1964, is the oldest and largest volunteer probation program in the nation. He sponsored laws to prevent child abuse and neglect and was instrumental in the establishment of Tennessee's child protective services. He was the author of Many Tennessee's laws pertaining to paternity and child support. He has strictly enforced child support and paternity laws, thereby striking at the roots of the neglect and delinquency problems by enforcing parents' responsibilities toward their children and the community. He has always emphasized the importance of legitimation children born out-of-wedlock, and the number of children legitimated in the Court annually approximates or exceeds the out-of-wedlock birthrate in Shelby County. During the years 19652005, the Court legitimated over 150,927 children and collected 1.1 billion dollars ($1,117,986,986) in child support. In 1997 he was appointed by the Mayors of Memphis and Shelby County to serve as a member of the Memphis and Shelby county Crime Commission. In 1998 the Administration for Children and Families of the US Department of Health and Human Services presented him with a Distinguished Service Award "In Recognition of His Distinguished Contributions Toward Giving Hope and Support to America's children." In 2001, the Tennessee Juvenile Court Services Association honored Judge Turner by creating The Judge Kenneth A. Turner Scholarship in Criminology and Criminal Justice at the University of Memphis. The $3,500 scholarship assists deserving criminal justice majors to pursue careers in juvenile justice. In 2001, Judge Tuner received the Edward F. Barry Service Award Resolution of Appreciation from Associated Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Memphis. He was recognized"....as a model of Christian leadership and vision in strengthening our society's institutions to ensure that all of God's people may have a quality life." During his 42 years as Judge, he has received the following significant awards: President (1965-1966) Tennessee Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges. "Good Neighbor Award" (1965) Memphis Association of the Blind. "Outstanding Service Award" (1969) Al Chymia Shrine Temple "Man of The Year" (1973) Downtown Optimist. Economic Club of Memphis Charter Member (1973), "Outstanding Service To God and Youth" (1974) Salvation Army of Memphis. "Spirit of Life" (1976) City of Hope. "Outstanding Leadership Award" (1981) Tennessee Corrections Association. "Outstanding Service" (1982) Sertoma Club of Memphis. "Outstanding Service" (1983) Memphis boys Town. "Humanitarian Award" (1985) Variety Club of Memphis. "Community Service Outstanding Achievement Award" (1989) St. Joseph Hospital, Children and Youth Center. "State Recognition Award" (1988) U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. "Outstanding Service " (1988) Family Linc of Memphis. "Community Service Outstanding Achievement Award" (1989) St. Joseph Hospital, Children and Youth Center. "State Recognition Award" (1988) National Jewish Center for Immunology and Respiratory Medicine. "Outstanding Service" (1999) Department of Children's Service Adoption Services. "Singleton Leadership Award" Marine Corps League. Memorials may be sent to Judge Kenneth A. Turner Scholarship in Criminology and Criminal Justice at University of Memphis, Porter Leath Children's Center and Youth Villages or St. Agnes Academy-St. Dominic School, and Variety Children's Charities. Memphis Funeral Home Poplar 901-725-0100 www.memphisfuneralhome.net (Published in The Commercial Appeal on 2/14/2008.)