Edwin Turnage

Edwin describes his job as, “helping injured North Carolina and South Carolina working class people make compelling and thorough legal claims against insurance companies, hospitals, governments, and corporations.” His father, a U.S. naval officer, was the captain of the U.S.S. Duncan, a navy destroyer, during the Vietnam war; but he claims that his mother is his inspiration. When his dad was deployed, his mom raised him and his younger brother and sister, as a true military wife! He describes her as, “cool and generous with her time to help us with school or life.” Edwin then goes on to say, “One example of Mom’s courage when I was a little kid stands out. Mom was an artist and she encouraged us kids to be creative. I remember once making a model of the creature from the black lagoon, like the one pictured. Looking back now, I’m sure that my model was perfectly horrendous. Nevertheless, Mom put the model up on her kitchen shelf where it was prominently displayed. As an 11-year old, I was proud of my art. I remember sitting at the kitchen table eating a bowl of cereal when a couple of Mom’s friends came to visit. They laughed at my art and ridiculed my Mom’s choice of kitchen decoration.  Instead of just laughing along with her friends, which would have been the easy thing to do, Mom politely defended me and my work of art. Mom was my advocate, and even though it was a little thing, I’ll never forget what she did for me. Mom’s example is why I’m proud to advocate for injured people now. Every day I get to stand up and help people. Just like what Mom did for me decades ago in her kitchen. Even though she is in heaven now, she still inspires me.”