David Lewis Taylor was an ordained deacon.
Taylor died peacefully at his home on June 9, 2012. He was 101.
Born to Willie and Martha (Evans) Taylor on Aug. 29, 1910, in South Hill, Va., he was the ninth of 12 children.
He was baptized at an early age at the Taylor Family home church, Lombardy Grove Baptist church in South Hill, Va. Taylor attended Cook Elementary School and Mecklenburg County Training School.
Following the path of his sisters, Hannah and Pearl, Taylor moved from Virginia to the Frankford section of Philadelphia in 1935. It was there he met and married Catherine (Price) in 1937. From this union they were blessed with five children.
Taylor worked for many years at the Quaker City Rubber Company until its closing. He later retired from the Newman Paper Company in 1978.
He was a member of the Second Baptist Church of Frankford for over 70 years. He was an active participant in weekly Prayer & Bible Study, and Sunday school. He was ordained as a deacon in 1972, and also led Second Baptist as chairman of the deacon board for a few years.
His family said he loved to sing gospel songs, and could always be counted upon to “raise a hymn” both in church and at home.
Taylor continued to sing on a daily basis until his passing. If you ever had a problem, his family said he was always willing to listen and would encourage you to “take it to the Lord in prayer.” His favorite scripture was Psalms 103.
In May of 2011, Taylor was honored and recognized by the city of Philadelphia. Mayor Michael Nutter presented him with a plaque celebrating him among many centenarians for his contributions and accomplishments as one of the outstanding elders in the Frankford community.
For those who knew “Pop” as his children and grandchildren called him, he was a mild-mannered man and courteous to all. He was known to be a “Good Samaritan.” Taylor was always willing to help others and in particular the seniors in the neighborhood. He could be counted on to drive them to doctor’s visits, pick up their prescriptions and run numerous errands as the need arose.
One of the things Taylor loved best was his garden, which was his pride and joy. His family said he was known to have the tallest and heartiest greens in Frankford. He brought “the country to the city” by growing various vegetables in his garden, and raising chickens in a coop in his backyard.
Taylor was preceded in death by his parents and his wife.
He is survived by his daughters, Miriam Jones (Leonard), Jeanne Mackie (William) and Bonita Hartwell (Dennis); sons, David (Maxine) and Gregory; sister, Lucille Hudson of South Hill, Virginia; 20 grandchildren; 26 great-grandchildren; and four great-great-grandchildren; special niece, Jeanette Richardson; friends, Yolanda Abner and Deacon John Heard; and other relatives and friends.
Services will be held June 16 at Second Baptist Church of Frankford, 1801 Meadow Street. Viewing is at 9 a.m. Services will follow at 11 a.m. Burial is in Fairview Cemetery, Willow Grove.
