Orphus Taylor

Mrs. Orphus Rosetta Taylor was determined to find her niche and never settled for second best. She received her B.S. (Magna Cum Laude) in 1954 from Bluefield State College in Bluefield, WV, with an Education & English concentration. Shortly after she began work as a nurse's aide and payroll clerk at Jewish Memorial & Boston State Hospitals. Orphus received her first teaching position in Philadelphia, PA in 1960. And, when the family moved to Springfield, Ohio in 1965, Orphus carried mail for the Springfield Post Office and was employed as a Flex Type Operator at Wright Patterson Air Force Base. Orphus later became an English Teacher and Guidance Counselor at J. Warren Kiefer Jr. High School.

After receiving her master's degree (Cum Laude) in Counseling from Wright State University in 1973, she became a School Psychologist and transitioned to the Dayton City School System. Orphus retired from the Dayton School System in 1995. Orphus was also caring for her five children during this time. And, following retirement Orphus continued employment as a School Psychologist, with the Springfield Academy of Excellence. There she prepared Psychological Reports for the Springfield City School System. Orphus developed a deep interest in politics and became a Springfield City Commissioner and then vice-mayor for Springfield. She represented Springfield, Ohio with their sister city in Wittenberg, Germany in 2004 and delivered her address in English and German. You might think that was enough, but she still found time to write, direct and produce twelve original plays. Her favorites were, "When Darkness Comes to Light" and "The Seed". Orphus was also a St. John Missionary Baptist, Sunday School teacher for fourteen years and the Church Superintendent for twelve years.

Orphus Taylor also held several offices and was involved in numerous committees. Some of those were; Clark County Board of Trustees, Clark County Public Library Board of Trustees, Clark State Community College Board of Trustees, City of Springfield Human Relations Board, Springfield Regional Medical Center Committee, President of the Truman Kennedy Club, Secretary of the Bluefield State Alumni, President of the Dayton Springfield Bluefield State College Alumni, and member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Jack & Jill, Toast Masters and The St. John Missionary Baptists Church Willing Workers.  

Orphus Taylor leaves to cherish her memories, her children;  Felicia (Fransworth) Taylor-Thompson (Maryland), Editonia (Joseph) Gerideau (Nevada), John Andrew (Deborah) Taylor (Minnesota), Jerome Taylor (Nevada),and Tyrome Dwayne (Ethel) Taylor (Ohio); her grandchildren; Fehanna Diorphus Thompson, Reynold Christopher Thelwell, Rehanna Thelwell, Ayaka Rosetta Taylor, Tenika Dearmond, Khristina Tyson, and Jachob Tyson, along with her siblings; Quantina Peck (West Virginia) and Minister Don (Shirley) Mohammad (Massachusetts). She is preceded in death by her sisters; Audrey Straughter, Marvel Abayomi-Cole, Barbara Ann Tollerson, Melissa Straughter, and Gladys Straughter and her brothers; James Alex Straughter, Warren C. Straughter, and Justice Muhammad.  

A life well-lived is a life remembered…

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