Ila Marshall Turpeau Scholarship Fund

IIa Marshall Turpeau, granddaughter of American slaves, was born in Galveston, Texas, on July 15, 1882. After her father’s death, her mother returned to New Orleans where Ila was raised. At 18, Ila Marshall married David Turpeau, a minister in the Delaware Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Following several East Coast appointments, she spent an active public life serving her church and the city of Cincinnati, Ohio, where her husband was pastor, as well as a 3-term elected member of the State of Ohio House of Representatives.

Ila Turpeau was acutely aware of the racial barriers which prevented persons of color from participating in the mainstream of American life. Facing these limitations, she sought alternative ways to influence, not only by word and action, but also by the leveling effect of her presence in places where ‘Negroes” were not to be. She was a vehicle for change.

In her public life, one theme reappears: her Christ-like concern for those whom life had oppressed – the poor, the war-torn, the mentally ill, the aged, young mothers, and fatherless children. On behalf of all of these, she worked tirelessly, earning a reputation in Cincinnati as a pioneer in these often-ignored fields.

Mrs. Turpeau served the Church as a minister’s wife for forty-seven years. The mother of four daughters and four sons (photo below), she raised her children well-grounded in the Christian faith and committed to the advancement of their people. After living with her youngest daughter, Bishop Leontine T.C. Kelly, Mrs. Turpeau moved to the United Methodist Home in Richmond, Virginia in 1980. Although her body was frail, she remained actively involved with her family and in the life of the church, until passing in 1984, at the age of 102.

Acknowledging that no woman is truly free until all are free, the Ila Marshall Turpeau Endowed Scholarship Fund was established at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary. At a time when increasing numbers of women are preparing for ordained ministry, an open hand and a watchful eye must be maintained to ensure that women of racial minorities are well-represented. This Fund, the first of its kind at Garrett, directly addresses such women.

Vision of the Ila Marshall Turpeau Scholarship

In honor of the life of Ila Marshall Turpeau, this scholarship is awarded to minority women students at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary based on these criteria:

• Women of color, preferably black or African American, pursuing a Master of Divinity degree
• Carriers of the oral history of their people, with a knowledge of their customs, literature, and arts
• Preferably candidates for parish ministry in the United Methodist Church

The Scholarship was launched in 1984 and, since 1988 when it became endowed, has been awarded a total of 38 times! While the initial goal of the Turpeau Scholarship was $50,000, we have raised more than $82,301! We have set a new goal of raising $100,000 by December 31, 2022.

The Children of Ila Marshall and David Dewitt Turpeau (Standing L-R) Leontine Turpeau Current Kelly (1920-2012), Florida Turpeau Anderson (1915-1979), DeWolfe Rossman Turpeau (1909-2001), Woodruff Sage Turpeau (1907-1988), David DeWitt Turpeau, Jr. (1905-1982), Angella Turpeau Hayes (1912-2016), Anita Turpeau Anderson (1903-1996) (Seated L-R) Ila Marshall Turpeau (1882 – 1984), Michel Martine Turpeau (1923-1996), David Dewitt Turpeau (1874-1947)