Mattie Idella Taylor

Mother Mattie Idella Goodrum Taylor at the age 86, passed away peacefully on Thursday, April 4th at MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center, in Clinton, MD. Born Mattie Idella Goodrum on October 27, 1932 in Atlanta, GA to Troy and Aurelia Goodrum, she had a rich up bringing full of friends and Sunday School lessons. Mother was baptized at an early age and was a childhood member of Friendship Baptist Church of Atlanta, Georgia. It was in the stroller where she met her “cradle to the grave” friend Muriel Odom. It was at her first job at the movie theater that she developed a life bond with Marian Gilliam. As a result of her introduction of Marian to another friend, Franklyn Geary, the two married and began their life partnership. As a result of this partnership, Mother gained a godson who is her heart, Dr. Franklyn “Chipper” Geary, Jr., M.D. She attended Atlanta Public Schools and was a proud graduate of Booker T. Washington High School Class of 1950. She went on to graduate from West Virginia State College in 1954 where she pledged Delta Sigma Theta. It was on this campus that Mother met her soror big sister, Mable Johnson and Mable’s then sweetheart, Francell Turner, who later married and over decades of family dinners and great conversations formed a family of love. After college she landed in Washington, DC on the same day that Mable and Francell’s first child Francell, Jr. was born. She always said they came to DC together. Francell Jr. and his sister, Karen (Mother’s Nay Nay) were her children before she had children. It was also on this campus that she forged an unlikely friendship with her A.K.A. roommate, Carrolena Key. They affectionately called each other “Roommate” and continued their friendship for the next 65 years. As a new resident of Washington, DC, she found the embrace of Lillian and Norman “Pops” McCoy as a foster daughter. It was in that embrace that she gained two foster brothers Norman, Jr. and Van and a longstanding membership with Metropolitan Baptist Church at 12th and R Streets, NW, first under the pastorate of Rev. E. C. Smith followed by the pastorate of Rev. Dr. H. Beecher Hicks, Jr. It was also in that embrace that she watched the graceful rise to stardom of her foster brother Van who became ‘Van McCoy,’ composer of “The Hustle” and “Baby I’m Yours”. She soon met and married the love of her life, John Allen Taylor, and enjoyed 15 beautiful years with her beloved sweetheart. They were married in August 1964 and had four children “The Taylor Tots”, Constance, John, Jr., John G. and Aurelia. As a family they enjoyed summers at Mill Point Shores (their beach home community) and countless family vacations. She began her career as a Police Woman with the Women’s Bureau of the Metropolitan Police Department where she served 6 years followed by a few years service as a social worker. She continued to dedicate her career in civil service for 30 years where she earned a Master’s of Public Administration at American University. She worked to establish the Summer Youth Employment Program, which continues to thrive today. She also revived Worker’s Compensation and OSHA for the District of Columbia which became a model example for other agencies throughout the country and hosted a National Worker’s Compensation Conference held in the Mayflower Hotel in Washington, DC which listed among its speakers, John Riggins of the Washington Redskins and Delaware Senator Joseph Biden. In 1964, she became the Ward 5 School Board representative amongst the group of first elected officials of the District of Columbia. After her term ended, Mother continued to be socially and civically active as well as served as president of the Home and School Association of her children’s schools. Mother also ran as a candidate in the 1986 mayoral election against Mayor Marion Barry, a longtime political advocate and friend. After retiring from the District of Columbia, Department of Employment Services where she served as Deputy Director, she became an independent music publisher by establishing Van McCoy Music Inc. where she preserved and promoted the legacy of the late Van McCoy. As CEO, she partnered with Van’s father “Pops” and Van’s cousin, Theodore Ray to form the trio that gave long life to Van’s creative works. Her faithful spiritual wisdom and philanthropic service to ministry beyond the traditional church earned her the affectionate title of "Mother". Those whom she called her foster children were Rev. Donald Vails of the “Donald Vails Choraleers”, Autumn Harding and Merrill Smith. Her mother’s wings spread over countless more spiritual sons, daughters, brothers and sisters. At the time of her passing she was the sitting international Mother of Global United Fellowship, founded by Bishop Neil Ellis and had served as past Mother of the Women of Excellence (WOE), formed by Pastor Debra Morton, which is an early auxiliary of the Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship, founded by Bishop Paul Morton. She was a founding member of the Baptist Assembly of Free Spirit Churches, founded by Rev. Charles Nicks. Mother also spent 10 years as a member of Christian Praise Church under the pastorate of Rev. Conrad Brooks. Mother Taylor is survived by three of her children: Constance Taylor (Kevin) Johnson, John G. and Aurelia Taylor; five grandchildren: Toya C. Taylor, Blair Hamilton (Erik) DeLorge, John II and Alexander Hamilton, Troy (Tryphaena) Taylor, eight great-grandchildren; a sister, Dr. Jewel Jones Faison, a sister-in-law Minister Norma (Jerry) Lewis, Sr., three nephews, Raymont Young, Jerry (Christina) Lewis Jr., Dr. A. Zachary (Tyciee) Faison, Jr. and three nieces: Emily Goodrum, Anilda Goodrum, Keira Lewis and Dr. Morgan Z. Faison; her Godson Dr. Franklyn “Chipper” Geary, M.D., longtime friends Mrs. Mable Turner and Carrolena “Roommate” Key, foster daughter Autumn Harding, foster son Merrill Smith, foster granddaughter Amber Harding and a host of family and friends.