Calling them “pioneers” and “trailblazers,” Peoria leaders are remembering the service and dedication of two former city council members who died in recent weeks.
W. Eric Turner, a Vietnam War veteran who spent 24 years on the council, died Saturday at age 79, while Camille Gibson died Aug. 20 at age 89.
“They were both basically lifelong Peorians,” said former mayor Jim Ardis. “They were very invested in the community, and they both gave a lot of years back to try to improve it.”
“I highly respected both of them and I remember their service. Our heart goes out to their families,” said Mayor Rita Ali, noting Turner was the longest-tenured Black council member and Gibson was among few women on the council in her time.
“Both of them they broke barriers and broke glass ceilings, and I can only respect them for the heights that they attained and the service that they gave,” said Ali.
‘Incredibly personable’
A post on the city’s official Facebook page said Turner’s service was “marked by wisdom, integrity, honesty and a deep commitment to the people and neighborhoods of Peoria.”
Semi-retired longtime council member Chuck Grayeb said he first met Turner in 1995 as they were starting their council service.
“He was an incredibly personable individual,” said Grayeb. “He was doing a lot of work with kids who were involved in drug trade and gangs, and I was working for the school system at the time.
“We more or less ran on the same platform to do what we could to stem the formation of gangs and the distribution of gut of drugs in our neighborhoods.”
Turner worked for 40 years at Caterpillar in addition to his time on the council. Ardis recalled sitting next to him along the horseshoe for six years as at-large representatives.
“I kind of cut my teeth sitting next to him and just watching how he operated and how the council operated,” said Ardis, who like Turner attended Spalding Institute before it merged into what is now Peoria Notre Dame.
“He had a he had an interesting childhood; he grew up in the homes and worked his way up through school, through you know grad school and Caterpillar, the whole professional route, and he still he still took time to, especially talk to young kids about the value of education to get yourself a good job and be productive part of the community. He was a role model for a lot of young kids.”
The city’s post said Turner maintained a philosophy: “Be a good friend to all, say what you mean and mean what you say.” He served alongside four mayors and nine city managers before retiring in 2019.
“Eric was actually leaving the council when I was coming on as at-large city council member, and he was like an institution,” said Ali. “He had a lot of institutional knowledge and wisdom and skills that he lent to our community.”
“People appreciated the perspective that he brought to the council,” said Ardis, “and there was just a lot of value in that.”
‘A tough cookie’
Gibson, a Bradley University graduate who later taught history there, was first appointed to the city council in December 1988 and again in January 1990, before being elected to an at-large seat in 1991.
“She was a tough cookie,” said Ali. “She was a debater, and she stood up for what she believed in.”
Grayeb remembered Gibson as “a tireless advocate” for Peoria’s heritage and historic neighborhoods, particularly south of War Memorial Drive.
“She understood that no amount of growth to the north, with the annexation growth cell strategy, could save the city if the neighborhoods to the south capsized,” said Grayeb. “She worked tirelessly with all the neighborhood associations to bring them what they needed.”
Ardis said he only worked with Gibson for a few years, but he respected her steadfast approach.
“She was she was rock solid. She was always trying to look at all sides of the issues,” said Ardis. “She was a very good role model and mentor for me, just because of her objectivity when she'd look at these different issues that came before the council. So, I had the utmost respect for her.”
Gibson’s online obituary said her years of public service centered around neighborhood development, housing, youth organizations and public safety. She served on the council until 2001 and later held a seat on the Peoria County Board of Election Commissioners.
Grayeb said while Gibson was a committed Republican, she wouldn’t let her party ties sway her from her personal beliefs on the merits of all council decisions.
“Every judgment was made independent of party affiliation. I really respected her for that, and sometimes she irritated people who thought that she should vote differently,” said Grayeb. “But she was very independent-minded.
“And when Camille Gibson went down to City Hall to see the city manager, people took note. She didn't go down there very much, but when she went down there and she had something on her mind, city managers listened to her.”
