Hugh's News & Commentary

James Edward Taylor, Ph. D., was born July 21, 1933, in Austinville, Virginia, and graduated to his heavenly home November 19, 2010, in Oklahoma City. He was the son of C. R. Taylor, Sr. and Annie Hazel Fisher Taylor, and was one of their ten children. He met his bride, Mary Bly McMillion, while holding a tent revival in her home town in 1954, and they enjoyed 52 years of marriage.

James was preceded in death by his father, Charles Robinson Taylor, brothers, Howard Taylor and Tommy Taylor, and sisters, Guyla Taylor, Betty Lou Anderson, and Emma Jane Aker. He is survived by his 101-year-old mother, Annie Hazel Taylor of Max Meadows, VA, his wife, Mary Taylor, of Oklahoma City, and his four children -- J. Mark and Virginia Synan Taylor of Edmond, OK; Melody and Todd Smith, of Bedford, VA; Michael and Melodie Taylor, of Georgetown, SC; and Marty and Kari Taylor, of Orlando, FL – and seven grandchildren whom he adored – Chance, Daniel, Graham, Abigail and Molly Bly Taylor, and Caleb and Luke Smith. He is also survived his sisters, JoAnn Johnson, of Greenville, SC, and Hazel Faye Robertson, of Max Meadows, VA, and two brothers, C. R. Taylor, Jr. of Max Meadows, VA, and Freddie Taylor, of Roanoke, VA, and their families.

James was a consummate “seeker of truth,” and as such, he pursued and earned several degrees including an Associates Degree from Emmanuel College; a Bachelor of Divinity from Asbury College, a Master of Theology from Asbury Theological Seminary, a Master of Education from the University of Pittsburgh, a Specialist in Christian Education from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, and a Ph. D. in Administration from Golden State University. He also completed doctoral studies at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Elgin, IL.

In his early years, he served as a pastor in churches in Virginia and Pennsylvania, and as President of Ambassador Bible Institute in London, OH. For over two decades, he was a leader in the field of Christian Education in Oklahoma. He served as the founding chairman of the Christian Education Department at Southwestern Christian University, and enjoyed a long tenure as the President of the Oklahoma Christian Education Association.

“The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delights in his way” (Psalm 37:23).

The viewing of the body was from 9 a. m. – 9  p. m. on Monday, November 22, 2010, at Mercer-Adams in Bethany, OK, with family present from 6-8 p. m.

A celebration of his life will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, November 23, 2010, at River of Life Church, 6901 N.W. 150th Street, in Oklahoma City. Another service will follow on Saturday, November 27, at the St. Paul Pentecostal Holiness Church in Max Meadows, VA, with burial at West End Cemetery in Wytheville, VA.

[Editor's comment: It has been my privelege to have known James Taylor since we were classmates at Emmanuel College, 1952-53.  After my tour of duy in the United States Marine Corps, in August 1956, I attended Asbury College in Wilmore, KY, one year with James. Later after graduating from Furman Univeristy in Greenville, SC, I began my seminary education at Asbury Theological Seminary in 1960. Guess who was a senior that year? It  was James Taylor.

Meanwhile after pastoring for two years, and almost eleven years on active duty in the Air Force, I was selected as the third president of Southwestern College, now Southwestern Christian University. Once again, James had preceded me, and was on the faculty and was the chairman of the Christian Education Department. The odds of that ever happening again is minuscule. I can only give testimony that this happened in the providence of God. James and Mary, as well as their children, have remained friends throughout all the intervening years.

This past summer, we were privileged to see Mark and Virginia Synan at the 50th Wedding Anniversary celebration for Vernon and Phyllis Synan, and Vinson and Carole Synan in Franklin Springs. Recently, when I was in Oklahoma City, I saw some of his creativity in remodeling a kitchen, and wallpapering in the lovely home of Charles and Ann Phillips. I understand that Mark and Virginia have a furniture store in Oklaoma City, or is it Edmond. Mark and Virginia are marvelous singers, and if I recall both of them sang with the World Actions Singers on the Oral Roberts television program.

Let us remember the family of James Taylor in our prayers. Our hearts go out to Mary, and her children. I was not aware that the mother of  James is still living and is now 101 years old. Amazing!