Remembering Daddy

Remembering Daddy: The funeral services and obituary of my beloved father, John W. Taylor (1927-2010)

Cover

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IN LOVING MEMORY OF
Bro. John Willie Taylor
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Eleven O’clock a.m.
Fifth Ward Missionary Baptist Church
4300 Noble Street, Houston, Texas 77020
Rev. Leonard Barksdale, Pastor

Obituary

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OBITUARY
Where there is a beginning, there is an end . . .

BIRTHPLACE: Chappell Hill, Texas
BIRTHDATE: February 22, 1927
PARENTS: Willie Taylor and Louise Newsome Hubbard
MARRIAGE: Carrie Chapple for 61 years
CHURCH AFFILIATION: Brotherhood, Deacon, Trustee, Financial
Secretary for 38 years
SUNSET: February 7, 2010

Left in God’s care and to cherish his memory is his devoted wife, Carrie; two sons Elgin Taylor and wife Nina, and Jon Taylor; one daughter Marlive Taylor-Harris; one sister, Elaine Mayberry; three granddaughters, Nicole Taylor, Nichelle Taylor McLemore and husband Jason, and Nia Taylor; grandson, Marcus Bowie; two great-granddaughters, O’Liveja Bowie and Taylor McLemore; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Family Reflections

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My family is not known for being quiet. There is always a lot of loud talking and laughing when we all get-together. What I always noticed is that my grandfather didn’t seem to say much. But when he spoke everyone else shut up. He usually told a funny story about someone he knew or something from his childhood. He spoke softly, slowly, and deliberately. When he finished his story, we all erupted with laughter because it was naturally a hilarious story that he told. Then the noise level would resume. I always think of my grandfather as a man who loved his family and used his words well.
— Nicole Taylor

I have a lot of wonderful memories of Papa — making homemade ice cream, helping us crack pecans, going to Prairie View to farm, and many many others. But, what I have thought about the most in recent times is how proud he was of us all. I know that he was always praying for us and so proud when we did good things. At family gatherings, as we all sat around and enjoyed a great meal together, he would sit at the head of the table and would just beam. His expression said it all — I love my family, and I am so blessed and so proud. I will always miss and love my proud Papa.
— Nichelle Taylor McLemore

Papa grew the best sugar cane and made the best pecan pie. But, what I cherish most is his love for his family, his beliefs in right and wrong, and his dedication to hard work. Everyone should be so fortunate to have such an example.
— Nia Taylor 

When my mother was stuck at work, and my grandmother was trapped at home, it was my grandfather who came and got me from daycare during a tropical storm. I was 4. He carried me on his shoulders, and the water was up to his thigh. He was determined to get me home. Now what makes this story so memorable to me is the fact that my grandfather hated water because he could not swim but he put his fears aside to get me to safety. He became my second father, and I know he loved me every day of my life. He was a man of practical wisdom and was the epitome of strength for our family. Today, as I attend his funeral, I am not miserable or sad for I know he is beside his heavenly Father watching over us. I will miss him dearly, but I know his legacy will live forever.
— Marcus Bowie, Angel Boy 

Order of Service

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ORDER OF SERVICE

Prelude

Processional                                                                     Final Viewing

KING DAVID LODGE #2500 MASONIC SERVICE
WAYNE JOHNSON JR., WORSHIPFUL MASTER

Congregational Selection                                                “I’ll Fly Away”

Scripture Readings
Old Testament  —  Psalms 23
New Testament — I Corinthians 15: 51 – 57

Prayer

Solo                                                                             Betty Armstrong

RESOLUTION(S) / ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

EXPRESSIONS (PLEASE LIMIT TO 2 MINUTES)

Obituary                                                         (Soft Music, Read Silently)

Solo                                                                                Nicole Taylor

Eulogy                                                               Rev. Leonard Barksdale

Recessional

Servant of God, well done. Thy glorious warfare past;
The battle is fought, the race is won,
and thou are crowned at last.

The Family

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Acknowledgements & Internment

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ACTIVE PALLBEARERS
Brotherhood
Deacons
Trustees

HONORARY PALLBEARERS
Elgin Taylor
Hodges Armstrong
Jon Taylor
Ralph Marshall
Marcus Bowie
Jason McLemore
Reginald Marshall

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The family of Bro. John Willie Taylor acknowledges with grateful appreciation the prayers, cards, flowers, and the many kind expressions of sympathy during the passing of their loved one. May God bless each of you.

INTERMENT
Golden Gate Cemetery
8400 Hirsch Road
Houston, Texas 77016

FINAL ARRANGEMENTS ENTRUSTED TO:
Robey Funeral Home
“A Family of Helping Hands”
403 W. Sterling Avenue
Baytown, Texas 77520
Telephone (281) 428-9911

Fine Print Designers
(281) 458-9800

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Sunday’s Obituary: Daisy Routt (1883-1963)

Daisy (Newsome) Routt married my 2nd Great Grand Uncle Jefferson Routt on 27 January 1917, and lived with him in Chappell Hill, Washington County, Texas. Even though there were no children born of this union, her children from a previous marriage were listed under his surname in the 1920 US Federal Census.

I’m not sure when Daisy moved to the Galveston, Texas area to be near her children and their families, but she was living in Galveston at the time of her death 14 March 1963.  Her body was returned to Chappell Hill, Texas where she was laid to rest in the Chappell Hill Cemetery on 20 March 1963.

Below is a copy of Daisy’s obituary that I was very fortunate to find posted by someone in her family on Ancestry.com. I’ve tried contacting that family member via the site, but have not made a connection yet. So, I patiently wait for someone from her family to return to Ancestry to pick up where they left off with their research. When they do, I hope a connection with them is possible!

Daisy Routt

Funeral services for Mrs. Daisy Routt, 80, who died at 7:45 p.m. Thursday in the home of her daughter, 3515 avenue M. are pending at Fields funeral home.

Mrs. Routt is survived by three daughters, Mrs. Lenora Fells and Mrs. Senora Wilder, both of Galveston and Mrs. Opera Henderson of New York City; five grand-children and seven great-grand-children.

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Source Citation:

Year: 1920; Census Place: Chapel Hill, Washington, Texas; Roll: T625_1855; Page: 10A; Enumeration District: 131; Image: 667.

“Obituary of Daisy Routt,” The Galveston Newspaper, Galveston, Galveston County, Texas, March 16, 1963, Obituary section,  accessed 2 October 2011.

Sunday’s Obituary: Mose Blanton (1871-1922)

Eagle Lake Headlight, November 18, 1922
Blanton, Mose
MOSE BLANTON BURIED SUNDAY

Mose Blanton, one of the respectable and old-time colored citizens of this community, died at his home near town last Saturday and was buried Sunday. Mose had many friends among the white folks here, and was one among the best of the colored citizens of the community.”

THANKS to the Colorado County TexGen Web Project, I was able to locate another Blanton obituary online . . . woo-hoo!

Mose Blanton is one of my great-grandmother Carrie’s older brothers. Though his obituary is short, I like that it focuses on the type of man my great-great uncle was at home and in his local community. As my mom likes to say, “there’s something to be said about the hand that raises you.” And in this case, the type of man Mose was in life was a reflection of the hand that raised him – Carey Blanton – http://claimingkin.com/sundays-obituary-carey-blanton/

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Source Citation

“Obituary of Mose Blanton,” Eagle Lake Headlight, Eagle Lake, Colorado County, Texas, Tuesday, November 18, 1922, Obituary section, available in print and available online at <http://www.txgenweb5.org/txcolorado/obits/obits_b/obitsb1b.htm#Blanton, Mose>, accessed 12 June 2011.

Sunday’s Obituary: Lula Green (1867-1964)

Obituary

I was just 5 years old when I met my great-great grandmother Lula for the very first time, and it wasn’t long after that meeting that she passed away. So, I’m sorry to say that I simply have no memory of her. But what I do remember is hearing family members speak fondly of her through the years since her death.

Click to read and view!

[Transcription]

LaVIDA: The Black Voice in Ft. Worth, TX
Saturday, May 2, 1964

Services Held for Mrs. Lula Green

Funeral services for Mrs. Lula Green, the mother of Rev. J. H. Green, Pastor of Mayfield Baptist Church, were conducted Wednesday, March 18, from Ebenezer Baptist Church, Chapel Hill, Texas. She was 97 years old.

Mrs. Green was the baby daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Osborne Routt and was born in Chapel Hill, Texas, where she received her early schooling. She united with this church at an early age. She met and married Mr. Jim Green on September 27, 1888. To this union, thirteen children were born. He preceded her in death.

She was a faithful churchman – and a devoted wife and mother. She believed in not sending her children but going with them to church. The example she lived day by day will ever be a goal for her family to strive to reach.

She was faithful to her church always present at every service unless providentially hindered from being there, and say to it that the family group attended with her.

She is survived by seven children namely: Miss Birdie Aldridge, Kansas; Nelson and Jim Green, Jr., Chapel Hill; Rev. John H. Green, Fort Worth; Sterling Green, California; Mrs. Sallie Lewis, Houston; and Rev. Jesse Green, also of Houston, TX. Also seven grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, four great-great-grandchildren, and other relatives and friends.

Sunday’s Obituary: Carey Blanton (1838-1891)

Colorado Citizen, August 27, 1891
Blanton, Carey
Eagle Lake Item

Carey Blanton, one of our best freedmen, died at his residence in town last Saturday night, after a long illness. Carey was an honest faithful and industrious darky and will be missed by the community.”

I truly appreciate Gina Hefferman, the Texas Archives State File Manager, and all the volunteers who donate their time transcribing records and contributing to the Texas USGen Web Project! As a result of their work, I was able to locate the obituary for my maternal great-great-grandfather – Carey Blanton – that appeared in a local county newspaper via the Colorado County TexGen Web Project where over 11,000 obituaries are now online!

Carey Blanton is my great-grandmother, Carrie’s father who was born into slavery around 1838, but died a Freedman on August 22, 1891 in Eagle Lake, Colorado Country, Texas.  Though the obituary above is not very flattering with regards to calling him an “industrious darky,”  – it is, what it is, and those were the times in which he lived. But despite the reference to his race and physical features, he was a man of “good character” and appreciated by those in the Eagle Lake community.

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Source Citation

“Obituary of Carey Blanton,” Colorado Citizen, Columbus, Colorado County, Texas, Tuesday, November 18, 1922, Eagle Lake Item section, available in print and available online at <http://www.txgenweb5.org/txcolorado/obits/obits_b/obitsb1b.htm#Blanton,%20Carey>, accessed 10 April 2011.