Mary E. Taylor was born Mary Elizabeth Scott on July 21, 1936, to Henry and Sophia Scott in St. Louis, Missouri. She is the oldest of three siblings.
She was educated in St. Louis Public School System. Upon the passing of her mother in 1945, she, her sister and brother were adopted by her aunt and uncle Luxola and the Reverend Charles S. Williams. The family eventually moved to Omaha, Nebraska where she completed her secondary and high school education graduating from Lincoln High School in 1954. She received her degree in Practical Nursing from St. Catherine's Hospital, Omaha, Nebraska. Mary matriculated at the Central State University, Wilberforce, Ohio, with a B.A. in Political Science, 1977 and has done studies for the Masters in Religious Education, at United Theological Seminary, Dayton, Ohio.
She met and married the love of her life, Walter J. Taylor, Jr. on July 1, 1956. Walter was in the United States Air Force (USAF) and was stationed at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, so they moved to Dayton, Ohio in 1959. To this union, a daughter was born, Sheila Marie Taylor on March 19, 1962. She is the grandmother of Ashanti J’Leah Walden and Great-grandmother (GG) of Iris Elizabeth Carr.
Mary was employed as a Private Duty Nurse for over 30 years for Freeman, an Architect, and Dorthea Pretzinger, of Kettering, Ohio caring for their youngest son Richard who was a Hydrocephalic Paraplegic who passed at the age of 50. Upon his death Mary continued to work taking care of Dorothea until her death.
In 1960, she became a member of the St. Paul African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church under Reverend
D.R. Miller. She served in many Ministries in her 62 years. Past Parent Body President, Woman’s Overseas Missionary Society, St. Paul A.M.E. Zion Church, a member of the Trustee Board when the church was built at its current location on Laurel Drive, Member of the Chancel Choir, Deaconess, Trustee Aide Club in which she one of the Founding Members, 6th International President of the Lay Council (1993-1997), A.M.E. Zion Church where she established several Councils overseas. Other outstanding accomplishments include the establishment of J'Leah's Closet (in the name of her granddaughter) in which donated children and adult clothing was sent overseas to Trinidad-Tobago and Barbados through the Missionary Society of the A.M.E. Zion Church. In 1997, she completed a $50,000.00 grounds beautification project at the Harriet Tubman Memorial properties in Auburn, New York, for the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church Home for the Aged and other church activities which provided clothing for the needy and food banks that feed the hungry.
In 1977 she became a member of Eta Phi Beta Sorority Incorporated, Lambda Chapter. On the local level she served as Chapter Basileus, Secretary, Chatelaine and Parliamentarian. In 1991, she was elected Northern Region Director where she served from 1991-1995. She was instrumental in establishing the first undergraduate chapter of Eta Phi Beta at Central State University in 1982. Her daughter was one of the 12 Charter Members of Beta Eta Chapter.
Mary was very active in her community, church, civic, and civil rights life. She established a tutoring program for math and reading, and a preventative drug program for parents and children through the Dayton Section of the National Council of Negro Women. She also started the first Pancake Breakfast in the West Dayton Area with all proceeds going to feed the hungry and assist the homeless. This project is now City-wide.
Mary E. Taylor is a Life Member of the National Council of Negro Women. She was Past President of NCNW Dayton Section, Assistant State Convener for Ohio, and Chairperson of its 40th Anniversary. She is also a Life Member of NAACP where she served as Unit Secretary and as 2nd Vice President. A member of NAACP since 1968, she participated in Voter’s Registration and Membership activities. For many years, she chaired the Annual Radio-thon and served on the Freedom Fund Banquet Committee. She gave many hours on a day-to-day basis in the local office serving the needy and elderly with information on civil rights concerning jobs, education, and racial discrimination.
This active lady is affiliated with many religious, civic, and civil organizations; namely the World Methodist Council, Executive Committee; the General Board and Foundation Trustee of the Ohio Council of Churches; World Federation of Methodist Women; President of Church Women United in Greater Dayton, Executive Board; and Vice Chair, Planning of the National Afro-American Museum and Cultural Center, Wilberforce, Ohio.
Mrs. Taylor is the recipient of over 34 awards too numerous to list. One she was very proud of, she received May 18, 1991, from Dr. Arthur E. Thomas, President of Central State University in recognition of her Outstanding Service as National President of the CSU Parents Association. A World traveler, she traveled to 5 continents to include Africa, Asia, South America, Europe, and North America.
Her Motto for Life was "If I could help somebody along the way, then my living will not be in vain”.
