ForeverMissed
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His Life

Homegoing Celebration Obituary

June 10, 2013

Nathan Taylor was born on January 5, 1927 in Newport News, Virginia to Joseph W. and Mary Alice Taylor.   He was the third of four children.  The Taylor family relocated to Washington, DC. and Nathan received his education in the public schools of the District of Columbia. 

Nathan gave his heart to the Lord and was baptized at an early age.  It did not take long for the gifts, talents and abilities that the Lord had blessed him with to begin to manifest.  The two most notable gifts were his beautiful tenor voice and the gift of service.  Blessed with four-part harmony, siblings Joseph, Mary, Nathan and Martha (aka the Taylor Quartet) began singing in Church when they were children.  In the late 1940s, Nathan began playing the bass drum for the Church of God’s 150-voice Cross Choir and Marching Band as they paraded throughout the streets of Washington, DC, seeking and saving the lost.  The Church’s Street Revival ended in September with the Annual Baptism Service, held at Griffith Stadium (current location of Howard University Hospital).  It was an amazing sight to see the Cross Choir and Band as they marched into the stadium where thousands were in attendance, lifting up the Name of Jesus!

While a teenager, Nathan began ushering and would often quote Psalm 84:10, “For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand outside.  I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.”  For many years he served from his favorite post, waiting patiently at the front door to receive and serve his pastor, Elder Lightfoot Solomon Michaux.   During testimony time at Church, he would often recite his favorite scripture, Psalms 148.  Starting from his ushering post, with a spit shine on his shoes, a hard crease in his pants, a crisply starched white shirt, and a perfectly tied tie, in very dramatic form he would boldly proclaim all 14 verses, beginning and ending with, “Praise ye the Lord!

Inducted into the United States Army, Nathan was honorably discharged in November 1946.  When he returned home, he wooed, courted and married the love of his life, Edythe Celeste.  On February 12, 1947 they were united in Holy Matrimony.  Out of their union were born Jonathan, Constance and Natalie.  Nathan was a family man in every respect.  For 66 years, he loved and cherished his “Celeste.”  He was a very protective father; he worked countless hours providing for the needs of his family.

Because of his servant’s heart, Nathan decided to join the DC Fire Department.  Firefighter Taylor served the citizens of Washington, DC for 30 years (1950-1980).  Most of his years of fire fighting and rescue service were rendered at Engine 27 located in the Deanwood area.  Within a few years at Engine 27 he was selected to become the Wagon Driver; which was quite an honor.  Nathan demonstrated such skill and expertise that he soon gained the reputation of being a “Wagon Master.”  While in the Fire Department, he also had a spiritual impact.  By example, he led several firefighters to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.

Using his brute strength and firefighting expertise, the Lord used Nathan to rescue countless people.  He acquired his great strength from his father, “Big Joe.”  While a teenager, Nathan learned it was possible to do extraordinary physical feats in the service of the Lord while working alongside his daddy.  One day “Big Joe” was driving the Church of God’s “Happy Am I” double-decker bus while transporting members between the Washington and Newport News Churches and had to stop along the road to change the tire.  He did not let the fact that there no jack stop him.  Big Joe lifted the double-decker bus and said, “Nathan, I’ll hold the bus while you change the tire.”

The word “minister” means servant, and this is a true description of Nathan Taylor.  Three times in his life, God sent him to deposit his gift of service into the lives of three founding pastors.  Beginning in the 1940s, he served Elder Lightfoot Solomon Michaux, Pastor of Church of God (Washington, DC). During the 1980s, he faithfully served Dr. Phillip W. Davis, Sr., Pastor Emeritus of Interdenominational Church of God (Gaithersburg, Maryland); where he received his ministerial license.  In 1992, the Lord sent him to serve Dr. John A. Cherry, Episcopal Pastor of From the Heart Church Ministries® (Suitland, Maryland).

Nathan and Edythe Taylor joined From the Heart in 1992.  He found great fulfillment in serving in the following From the Heart Ministries:  Save the Seed, Transportation and Physical Stewardship. He also served as a staff volunteer for many years.  In 1999 he was ordained an Elder of the Church.  Reverend Taylor delighted to serve and perform every Ministerial duty he was assigned; he especially loved it when he was assigned to the Baptismal service.

Dad Taylor was a devoted family man, courageous firefighter and faithful minister.  His ministry was service and song.  Rather than preaching very often from the pulpit, the Lord used him to be an example while we were in the pew and on the parking lot; taking time to encourage us to “…be ye steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour will not be in vain in the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 15:58)

Reverend Taylor leaves to cherish his memories his beloved and precious wife, Edythe Celeste; son and daughter-in-law, Jonathan and LeCora Taylor; daughter, Constance; daughter and son-in-law, Natalie and Brian Norris; four grandchildren: Jonathan II, JeNaé, Brianna and Charyssa; sister, Martha Henderson; a host of nieces and nephews; extended family, Sherritta, DaVandre and DaJon Matthews; numerous “sons and daughters in the Ministry” and friends.