Obituary of Carmen Wilks Taylor

Dr. Carmen Wilks Taylor, better known to her relatives as Sonya, 72, of Jamestown, departed this life to be with the Lord at 7:55 a.m. Thursday, March 9, 2017, in her home. She was born July 24, 1944 in Spanish Town, Jamaica, West Indies, a daughter of the late Bernard and Mavis Thompson Wilks. Dr. Carmen gave her heart to the Lord on July 15, 1957 at the age of 13 and received the Holy Ghost. She attended Spanish Town Elementary School, then graduated from St. Jago High School. She went on to pursue Cutlery Arts at UWI, where she graduated with honors in Home Economics and taught in St. Anns Bay, Jamaica. Carmen migrated to New York in 1963, where she continued to seek after the Lord and obtained her Doctorate Degree in Theology. She was called by the Lord to preach the word and was a faithful member of the Emmanuel Temple Church where she was Assistant Pastor, Sunday School Teacher and a Missionary Advisor. Dr. Carmen Taylor's diligent work in Sunday School led her to become Superintendent of the New York State Council of the PAW. Dr. Carmen Taylor served as an Executive Officer under the leadership of Dr. Rosa Sailes. She served two terms from 2001-2007 as First Vice President and Assistant Treasurer of the International Christian Education Association. She traveled all of the globe teaching and preaching God's Word. Before her retirement years she was a dietitian for the Resource Center for many years. Surviving are three daughters, Audrey (Teddy) Mitchell, Von Wright, Tracey Allen, her grandchildren, Dominique Leeper, Alexandria Mitchell, Ashley Mitchell, Tevin Wright, her great grandchildren, Damier Williams, Damani Blake, Danae Blake, Abirah Tucker, Amaya Tucker, Jonathan Allen, nephew Kevin, niece Janelle, great nephew and niece Caleb and Ella, and a sister, June Pryce. Besides her parents she was preceded in death by a sister, Odette Wilks. A home going service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, March 18, 2017, in the Emmanuel Temple Church, 1015 North Main, Jamestown, NY. District Elder Uvie Stewart, Jr. and Bishop Elah Nelson will officiate. Burial will be in the Sunset Hill Cemetery. Friends will be received from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. Saturday prior to the service in the church. Memorials may be made to Chautauqua County Hospice and Palliative Care, 20 West Fairmount Ave. Lakewood, NY 14750.