In Memory of Deborah Taylor
In Memory of Deborah Taylor
Deborah Taylor
Spouse: Joseph Taylor
Children: Sung Yul, Jung Hye, Henry, Inny, Shin Yul, Kimberly, Nikki, Jami
Birthdate: March 29, 1952
Blessing: July 1, 1982
Ascension: October 2, 2021
Seonghwa Ceremony: October 12, 2021
Deborah Taylor, loving wife, mother, and elder sister to so many, transitioned to her eternal home on October 2, 2021, in the arms of her husband Joseph Taylor. Debbie was born March 29, 1952 in Purcell, Oklahoma to Geraldine Ford and Wallace Thompson. She spent her childhood years in Oklahoma. In 1978, she joined the Unification Church and became a full-time member of the Des Moines Iowa Family Church. In July 1982, she was married and Blessed with Joseph Taylor.
After the 1982 Blessing, Debbie helped take care of second-generation children at the Jin-A Nursery in New York. In 1983, she joined the staff of “Harlem Weekly,” a subsidiary of the News World, a newspaper founded by True Parents in 1976. Debbie put her heart and soul into her work at the Weekly where her husband also worked as a reporter. Debbie met with everyday citizens and many dignitaries across the spectrum in Harlem and in greater New York. She won the love and respect of her colleagues on the writing and production staff.
From 1984 onward, Joe and Debbie did evangelistic work in New York, New Jersey, and Florida and raised their growing family. In 1991, the Taylors moved to the Washington D.C. area. Joe worked at the “World and I” magazine for 11 years and also with the Happy Mind food delivery company. During this time, Debbie’s evangelistic outreach blossomed. While Joe attended the Unification Theological Seminary, Debbie supported him, took care of their family, and continued outreach.
Debbie was passionate about whatever she set her mind on doing, especially for God’s providence. She always put others before herself and deeply moved the hearts of so many. Her beautiful smile and vibrant personality could light up a room. When inviting ministers to an event, she would call, visit and serve each one. It was hard to say “No” to Debbie. Incredibly, one time she personally brought 85 people to one event!
As the mother of eight children, Debbie devoted her life to serving her family, community, and God, our Heavenly Parent. Debbie loved her children deeply, continually tending to their education and well-being, even as she pursued her missionary work. In 1998, Joe and Debbie pioneered the Maryland Racial Reconciliation group along with Angelika and Bob Selle. In the reconciliation meetings, Debbie was both direct and extremely compassionate. She felt deeply that the racial divide and historical pain need to be healed and brought to an end. She consistently worked to achieve this in every way, big and small.
Debbie’s contributions to heaven are numerous. In February 2000, Debbie worked with an outreach trinity who brought 250 clergy to the Blessing 2000 in Korea. She was in the community outreach collaborative effort of the Family Federation for World Peace for the Million Family March in Washington D.C. in October 2000. In 2003, she went to Jeju Island, Korea, to work with the Cheon Il Guk missionary outreach. Debbie was an integral member of the inaugural trip of the American Clergy Leadership Conference (ACLC) to visit Holy Sites in Israel and Italy in 2003. She joined the Women’s Federation for World Peace reconciliation trip to Israel in 2004. Debbie was a founding member of Women in Ministry, leading many powerful meetings to bring Christian women leaders together.
Debbie suffered a stroke 18 years ago while leading an ACLC prayer breakfast that she had organized in Northern Virginia. True to Debbie’s nature, it happened while she was fully invested in providential work. Although she struggled with paralysis and other debilitating results of the stroke, Debbie continued to maintain an attitude of giving. She tried to greet all visitors with a smile and was grateful to those who took care of her in the nursing home and hospitals. Debbie would surprise everyone at times with her clarity and sense of humor.
Debbie never wanted to worry her husband Joe, although he was always concerned about Debbie and visited her every day. Even though COVID-19 slowed down the visits of Joe and their family to see Debbie, she was continually in their hearts. Right until her last day, when she was finally called to heaven, she would greet all who came to see her with a smile, as best she could.
In 2008, ACLC celebrated its 8th Anniversary by honoring Debbie on her birthday, March 29. Even though Debbie had already been confined to a nursing home for a few years, 350 people flocked to the event to greet and thank Debbie for the impact she had made personally on their lives and for ACLC.
Debbie’s perseverance, faith, and love never wavered and she continued to do her work of love on earth until her body could no longer keep up with her will and drive. Debbie is an unforgettable person to so many, and most of all, an unforgettable person in the heart of God. She will be forever loved, cherished, and greatly missed.
Debbie is survived by her loving family, her husband Joseph Taylor III of Maryland, children Sung Yul Taylor and Jung Hye Taylor of Maryland, Henry Taylor of Philadelphia PA, Inny Taylor and her husband Nicholas Fasulo and Shin Yul Taylor of New York, Kimberly Martin of Norman OK, Nikki Coleman of Colorado Springs CO, and Jami Paukei of Oklahoma City OK as well as her siblings, Albert and Lenora Hudson of Purcell OK, Anna Beasley of Edmond OK and Michael and Deborah Thompson of Edmond OK.
Deborah is fondly remembered by her grandchildren Brittany Martin, Samaria White, Donelle Martin, Kanvas Coleman, Chanessa McCracken, Shaila Coleman, Tianna Coleman, Aiesha Paukei, Chelsea Rivera, Tyra Paukei, Jailen Jackson, Amaya Jackson, and Elizabeth Taylor, and by 16 great-grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and nephews.
To support the Taylor Family with a donation:
Visit the GoFundMe site at: https://gofund.me/2dda5896
Condolences and cards may be sent to: The Taylor Family (3100 Stonybrook Drive, Bowie MD 20715)
Seonghwa Ceremony
Date: Tuesday, Oct 12, 2021 at 11:00 AM
Location: Beall Funeral Home in Bowie, MD, 6512 Crain Hwy, Bowie, MD 20715
Maximum capacity 80 person
Please RSVP with this form: https://forms.gle/nnoRuBKuqKcajSZE6
Watch the Seonghwa live by Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/618147675 (Passcode:2027)
Visitation / Viewing: 10:00–11:00 AM
Wonjeon Ceremony: 2:00 PM at Ft. Lincoln Cemetery (8401 Bladensburg Rd, Brentwood, MD 20722)
