Voice of Completion From the Past: A Gift From a Diocesan Clergy Descendant

From Tammy Lanier

In May 2022, I received the most surprising—yet delightful—email. So excited about its contents, I immediately replied. The email very soon resulted in a telephone call. What an informative conversation. The correspondence was from the great-granddaughter of the Rev. Dr. David Franklin Taylor. I viewed this exchange as a precious gift from a descendent, both proud of her great-grandfather and all he stood for.

Ms. Donaldson, this well-informed woman with whom I found myself speaking, was able to share so much. The words flowed through her lips just as smoothly as a stream of water from a slow-flowing faucet. It is obviously understandable that our diocese had significant information gaps regarding her great-grandfather and his comprehensive accomplishments in the Church because of the time he served the Diocese of Texas. For that reason, she wanted us to know more.

Deeply engrossed in genealogy—engaging extensively in history and research—her daughter seems to share this same tedious interest. As a result, one day while researching online, her daughter discovered information discussing the Diocese of Texas honoring their distinguished ancestor through the Racial Justice Initiative. They were excited, surprised, and pleased to know that a scholarship in the Diocese of Texas bears his name.

While the family was delighted, and supportive of our recognition, Ms. Donaldson made it very clear to me that she wanted to share far more details about the Rev. Dr. Taylor than we had included in our collateral about the initiative and her great-grandfather. I sensed a heartfelt necessity from her to provide me with facts about this distinguished and dedicated clergyman who once served our diocese, and in turn, information about the Rev. Dr. Franklin could be shared more broadly.

Recently learned truths by the Diocese of Texas about the Rev. Dr. David Franklin Taylor:

Ever so rightfully interested in setting his impressive record forward, Ms. Donaldson offered more than a wealth of information, she provided perspective and context that we did not have, nor could we have ever known.

For example, of Black Foot Indian descent, her great-grandfather received his Doctorate in Theology from Philips University in Nevada.  His son, Orlando Capitola Ward Taylor, was also very active in the Episcopal Church.

Family fled Alabama during Reconstruction

Her research has found that her ancestors were forced out of Alabama during Reconstruction because the Rev. Dr. Taylor’s grandfather was an elected official. As a result of having to relocate, the family eventually settled in Texas.

Believed to be a cradle Episcopalian

It is the family’s belief that he was a cradle Episcopalian. Her research, though, was not fruitful when seeking information about African Americans or Native Americans within the Church.

Leaves Texas to serve as rector at church in New Orleans, LA, later returning to Texas

Ms. Donaldson explained that the Rev. Dr. Taylor left Texas shortly after completion of school and headed to New Orleans. There, he served for many years as rector of St. Luke's Episcopal Church. He later returned to Texas to lead a church after his retirement.

Founder of school attended by the legendary Louis Armstrong in New Orleans

During his career, he served as head of a school he helped found and was responsible for the school being endowed. It was also the school and orphanage where Louis Armstrong was raised.

Interesting background about his experiences in New Orleans:

The Rev. Taylor helps secure $2M endowment for the church

The church he led in New Orleans was given a $2 million endowment. She says, however, that the church never received the money in the way it should have because the then bishop in New Orleans reportedly used the funding across the diocese to fund programs for White churches. The Rev. Dr. Taylor and his son spent the balance of his life trying to retrieve the funds on behalf of the church.

Ms. Donaldson said that she remembers her own grandfather's efforts in that regard after the death of her great-grandfather. She recalled accompanying her grandfather on several trips to meet with the bishop, expressly for the purpose of retrieving the funds intended for the church. She described those events as insulting, at best. That continued until the passing of her grandfather, O.C.W. Taylor, she said.

Church’s property sold under market value adds insult to injury

A building belonging to St. Luke's Episcopal Church was eventually sold by the diocese for half its value to a prominent White citizen of New Orleans, and the church never received the proceeds from the sale. These accounts, she asserted, are simply a few unjust circumstances under which many Black clergy served the Episcopal Church.

The Rev. Dr. Taylor’s son eventually acquires small portion of funding and elevates church

After the death of the Rev. Dr. Taylor, her grandfather, O. C. W. Taylor, was finally able to get a small fraction of the money owed to the church from the diocese. Unfortunately, it was given as though it was a gift to help the "Black church" in need, not as though it was ever intended for the church. Again, it was but a portion of the full amount.

Her grandfather elevated the church from a mission—which was its status when he arrived—to a parish, during his tenure. He also served as head of the vestry for many years since it was his family’s longtime church.

Ms. Donaldson described it as a “tough job” during those times for many Black leaders within the Church because of the treatment of Black Episcopalians.

In retrospect

To say the conversation with Ms. Donaldson was enlightening would be an understatement.  To that end, the Diocese of Texas remains steadfast in its work around racial justice and reconciliation through its trailblazing Racial Justice Initiative.

In retrospect, we now realize that we only knew but a glimpse about the Rev. Dr. David Franklin Taylor; however, the little that we knew was so impressive that he was deemed worthy to have a scholarship in his name. Had it not been for that, we would not know all that we know today about this servant leader in the Episcopal Church.

Moreover, Ms. Donaldson and her family are so supportive of this initiative that she is engaged, to the best of her ability, in soliciting funds for the Racial Justice Initiative in honor of her great-grandfather and his name—directing interested parties to the Racial Justice Initiative website every opportunity she gets.

Finding her way back to her roots

Ms. Donaldson lives in the northeast and hopes to relocate to New Orleans someday.