Julie Turner (she/her)
COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR

After learning about Sara’s work in Oklahoma, Julie launched a “free hug” group in South Carolina in 2018. In 2019, the group merged into the Free Mom Hugs South Carolina chapter, and she became a state chapter leader. 

Julie, an accidental LGBTQIA+ advocate and longtime communications professional in South Carolina, began volunteering her marketing, website, and social media skills for Free Mom Hugs committees and projects. In 2025, she joined the national staff to provide across-the-board support in internal and external communications.

When she’s not working to amplify the Free Mom Hugs mission or connecting more allies, potential volunteers and partner organizations with the work done at the national and chapter levels, she’s likely making a to do list on a whiteboard, reading a book or doing the Wordle. Julie lives with her husband, John, in South Carolina where they have enjoyed raising their two sons in home that includes a drama-prone miniature Dachshund named Jerry, a vivacious miniature rat terrier named Penny, and Goose the rescue cat.