Obituary of Lula M. Taylor

This community mourns, but also celebrates the life of Lula Mae Taylor. She was a true child and servant of the Lord who was called home Tuesday, March 27, 2018 at UPMC Chautauqua WCA Hospital.

She was the first African American woman to hold a county legislative seat in New York State.

During her remarkable and inspiring life, Lula lived through the Jim Crow South, the Great Depression, stood and talked with Civil War veterans at a very young age, dined with future U.S. presidents and first ladies, and worked with governors, senators, congressmen and other political figures across all branches of government.

Lula's greatest memories were shared with her husband of 67 years, former Jamestown City Councilman, Vivian A. Taylor. The Chautauqua County community often recognized them as a couple, whether having breakfast at the Jamestown Airport, attending services at the Blackwell A.M.E. Zion and Emmanuel Baptist churches, or enjoying Sunday lunch at Ponderosa, where they knew all the employees by name. They both enjoyed watching the Buffalo Bills and New York Yankees, and especially the Los Angeles Lakers and Chicago Bulls where they would try to spot Lula's cousin, Jim Cleamons who was a former player and assistant coach for both teams.

The daughter of the late Alonzo and Edith Gaither Miles, Lula was born on April 20, 1928 in Maiden, NC where she was raised. She graduated from Central High School in Newton, NC in 1948 and then attended cosmetology school, graduating in 1951. During this time, she met the love of her life, Vivian A. Taylor Jr., and following a two month courtship, they were married August 14, 1950 in the First Baptist Church in Charlotte, NC. Shortly thereafter, they took a train to Jamestown and began their involvement in the community.

For over 20 years, Lula worked as an inspector at Proto Tool in Jamestown. She was active in the PTA of both Euclid Avenue School and Jamestown High School. Lula had a passion for politics and social change which propelled her to serve as the first woman chairperson of the Jamestown Democratic Committee. She then ran for District 11 County Legislator and became the first African American woman in New York State to hold a county legislative seat, serving for 14 years.

Throughout the years, Lula worked closely with the Chautauqua County Board of Health, Chautauqua County Health and Advisory Board, Office of the Aging Advisory Board, and Falconer Rotary. Since the 1980's, Lula had a passion for AIDS awareness and in 1996, the community rallied to help her host the first public AIDS Awareness Forum in Chautauqua County. In recognition of her community service, she was awarded, along with her husband, the DeWitt Clinton Award in 2003. She was also named a YWCA Woman of Achievement in 2005 for her governmental work.

Lula had many individual accomplishments and awards but her most notable achievements were those reached as a team with her husband, Vivian. Together they co-founded the Chautauqua Black History Committee and were co-chairpersons of the Jamestown Interracial Forum. While attending the Blackwell Chapel A.M.E Zion Church, they served as director of Youth Fellowship, choir members and trustees. They served as members of Reachout Ministries, Underground railroad Tableau Project Steering Committee and had also served as coaches of the Love School Softball Team, the Evening Stars. They were the first benefactors to help establish the Stephen Pangborn and Willie Hayes Memorial Cancer Fund, as well as the Jamestown Live To Tell Fight Against Suicide Team.

Following retirement from the county legislature, Lula's accomplishments were added to the Congressional Public Record by Congressman Brian Higgins. The Taylors were recipients of the John D. Hamilton Community Service Award presented by the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation in 2007 and in 2008 Lula received the Daughters of the American Revolution in American History Award. In 2015, she was honored during the Catherine Harris Birthday Celebration at The Marvin House.

Lula was featured in a Time Warner Cable piece following Hillary Clinton's historic presidential nomination, given Lula's many interactions with Mrs. Clinton over the years.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a brother, Murray Miles who died fighting in World War II, twin brothers, Bill and Bob Miles, a brother, Jack Miles, and a sister, Beaulah Harper.

Along with her husband Vivian, surviving are two children, Lavon (Jose) Cruz of Jamestown and Myron Taylor of Charlotte, NC; a grandson, Michael Shackelford-Taylor of Philadelphia, PA and granddaughter, Claudine Taylor of Charlotte, NC; a great-grandson, Shaquille Pearson-Kinsey of Falconer and great-great-granddaughter, Kali Pearson of Frewsburg; and a brother, John "Joe" Miles of Maiden, NC; as well as a host of nieces, nephews and cousins.

The funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday in the Emmanuel Baptist Church. Officiating will be Rev. Leroy Walker and Rev. Maria Jones, both of Emmanuel Baptist Church, Rev. Reggie Smith of Blackwell Chapel A.M.E. Zion Church, and Rev. J.T. Madison of the Evangelical Covenant Church in Port Allegany, Pa.

Friends will be received from 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday in the Lind Funeral Home.

Donations may be made to the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation for the endowment of the Lula and Vivian Taylor Historical Fund.