20 Facts About Preston Taylor

Preston Taylor was an African-American businessman, minister and philanthropist.

Preston Taylor created Greenwood Cemetery, which is the second oldest African-American cemetery in Nashville, and Greenwood Park, which was the first park for African-American communities in Nashville.

Preston Taylor was said to tell his mother that he wanted to be a preacher at the age of four after attending a sermon in Lexington, Kentucky.

Preston Taylor became a minister with the Christian Church and settled in Mt.

Preston Taylor became known as the leading minister of his church during that time and was instrumental in organizing and building numerous congregations and meeting houses.

Preston Taylor's work led to the creation of state and national denominational organizations for black churches.

In 1872, Preston Taylor organized the Kentucky Christian Missionary Convention and the national black Disciples organization.

Preston Taylor was a strong advocate for the education of blacks and in the mid-1880s he purchased college property at New Castle, Kentucky, and created the Christian Bible College at New Castle, of which he was later a trustee and financial agent.

Preston Taylor was unanimously chosen the general evangelist of the US Preston Taylor edited a section of the denominational journal, the Christian Standard called "Our Colored Brethren".

Preston Taylor married one of the original Fisk Jubilee Singers, Georgia Gordon Taylor, better known as Georgia Taylor.

Preston Taylor was the daughter of George Gordon, who was a slave, and a mulatto mother, Mercy Duke Gordon.

Preston Taylor continued singing until her death in 1913, and was Taylor's closest companion.

Preston Taylor was appointed minister of Gay Street Christian Church, which was the "colored" congregation associated with the Vine Street First Christian Church.

Preston Taylor was pastor of the church for 40 years, until his death in 1931.

In 1917 Preston Taylor took the lead in creating the National Christian Missionary Convention, a nationwide organization of African American Disciples of Christ churches; he served as president of the Convention from its founding until his death.

Preston Taylor became a wealthy man through his business activities and was considered one of the most powerful and influential African-American businessmen in Nashville in the early years of the twentieth century.

Preston Taylor even arranged for horse-drawn wagons to transport patrons from the streetcar to the park.

Preston Taylor bequeathed Greenwood Cemetery to the National Christian Missionary Convention of the Christian Church, and it remains a nonprofit organization.

Until his death on April 13,1931, Preston Taylor was the best known African American citizen in Nashville.

Preston Taylor was buried in Greenwood Cemetery after a week-long interment ceremony.