Turner was born in
Teaneck, New Jersey, the daughter of Carmen Pawley and James Pawley. She grew up in Washington, D.C., and in 1968 graduated from
Howard University, later earning a master's degree in public administration and political science from American University (1972). As general manager, Turner won wide praise for running what was then the nation's second-largest rail and fourth-largest bus transit system. She was responsible for 7000 employees and the operation of some 2000 buses and rail cars with a combined ridership of 700,000 a day. Annual ridership grew to 70 million passengers. Turner left Metro in 1990 to become Under Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, with responsibilities similar to a chief operating officer. She died of breast cancer in 1992. ==References==