Elaine Turner

Elaine LeeTurner is a Memphis based AfricanAmerican historian educator civil rights activist and entrepreneur Born in Memphis to Robert and Alversa Williams Lee Elaines family were described in a 1965 Jet magazine article as the Most Arrested Family in America as the 7 Lee sisters were arrested at least 15 times at sitins from 19601965 In 1983 after working as a school teacher for 15 years Elaine and her sister Joan LeeNelson realised that many AfricanAmerican children in Memphis did not know their own history Together they founded Heritage Tours Memphis where Elaine serves as president Elaine is also the director of Slave Haven Underground Railroad Museum and the director of the W C Handy Memphis Home Museum In 1997 Turners Heritage Tours established the W C Handy Heritage Awards which pays tribute to the many outstanding Memphis musicians Elaine and Joan have won several awards for contributions to black historical heritage