[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 132 (Thursday, October 19, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1871-E1872]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   ON THE DEATH OF REV. JESSE TAYLOR

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DANNY K. DAVIS

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 19, 2000

  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a man who 
was devoted not only to serving the Lord, but to the people around him 
as well. The Reverend Jesse Taylor of Chicago, died on April 22, 2000. 
The passing of Reverend Taylor may have indeed been a sad moment for 
those who shared his life; but the subsequent celebration of the life 
he lived was a joyous occasion for all. In fact, when I was asked to 
speak at the home-going services of Reverend Taylor there were not 
enough words for me to begin to describe the full and virtuous life 
that he lived. This man lived and breathed all that life had to offer 
him.
  To describe Reverend Taylor is to describe a man who was after God's 
own heart. He was called into the ministry at the early age of nineteen 
and from there served as the Assistant Pastor of the Metropolitan 
Missionary Baptist Church in Chicago, Illinois where he served for over 
twenty-eight years.
  By 1969, he was named Pastor of that same church where he faithfully 
served for seventeen years. In 1986, Rev. Taylor became the pastor, 
counselor, teacher, and friend of Greater Love M.B. Church where he 
served the Lord and his community until his last breath. Rev. Taylor 
was the Financial Secretary to both the North Woodriver District and 
the Illinois State Convention. He also was a member of the National 
Baptist Sunday School and Training Union Congress along with the 
National Missionary Baptist Convention of America. In addition to being 
a pastor, Rev. Taylor was a loyal husband of sixty-five years; and to 
his eight children, a loving father.
  I stand before you honoring this wonderful man who represents what we 
should all strive to be--loving, dedicated, and steadfast not only to 
oneself, but to all of humankind. The Reverend Jesse Taylor, ``Greater 
love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his 
friends (John 15:13).'' Thank you for your life of service. Reverend 
Taylor lived until the ripe old age of ninety-two and preached his last 
sermon just a few months before this death.

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