In 2009, Rev. Donald R. Taylor, a well-loved and respected evangelist from the Conehatta area, had been on a mission trip to Indonesia. He immediately preached a revival, then while driving home, fell asleep at the wheel less than a mile from his home. First responders went to the scene, even those not on call that night, including his son, Brian Taylor. Brian was a paramedic at the time, with the highest medical training there. They tried to hold him back, but he had to go see if there was anything he could do to save his dad. Tragically, there was nothing.
Donald Brian Taylor, son of Donald R. and Celesia Ann Taylor of Conehatta, has his office in the Newton County Courthouse. Working in EMS 22 years this March, he has been the 911 coordinator
and emergency management director since Nov. 22, 2017, and the fire coordinator since this January.
I learned that the town of Decatur now has a 911 system that needed updating five years ago. Since Mr. Taylor has been the 911 coordinator, they took three different bids, finally accepting the bid of $430,000 on a new system, which is being installed now. Construction work is also being done to isolate the 911 center to make it quieter, to make other physical improvements in the center, and to provide a computer-aided dispatch program and a brand new mapping system. It will be much more cell phone compatible, better able to narrow down your location. Now, an ambulance can find your house’s location within a mile or so. But the newly installed system will be able to find your house within 150 yards!
Born Jan. 30, 1978, Brian attended Newton County High School in 1996, where he had played football and was active in the FFA agriculture program. His grandfather owned a dairy farm, and Brian says of his farming experience, “I loved it, and it helped make me the man I am now.” If the small dairy farm business had not plummeted, he declared, “I would be doing that now.”
Thankfully, Brian’s mother is still living. He has a brother, Scott, only 18 months younger than he, and a sister, Kristin, who is six years younger than Brian. His father, Bro. Don Taylor, pastored a while before becoming a full-time evangelist, so Brian was brought up going to church. His parents were always active in church. His mother always played piano or organ as he was growing up.
Brian was saved in vacation Bible school in 1985, when he was about seven years old. The pastor came to the classroom and shared the plan of salvation, using a “color” tract, with the different colors symbolizing aspects of the plan. For example, the color black was used to indicate the sin into which we are all born.
Brian told me to include this part of his story, in hopes that it would help someone else. He says, “It was a part of my life. It shaped me into a stronger man than I would have been without it.” He confessed that, during his teenage years, “I started wandering from the Lord, though I retained my Christian faith.” As so often happens, when he was 17, Brian felt he had to quit school to marry and support Kimberly and their first child Chelsea Elizabeth Taylor, who is now 22.
“After Chelsea was born, I started getting involved back in church again.”
He and Kimberly were married seven years before they divorced. During that time, Zachary Brian, was born. Now 19 and living with his mother, Zach, unmarried, has a daughter Isabella Raven Taylor, who is seven months old. Brian reminded me that the Bible teaches, “Everything you do has repercussions all down through the generations.”
Brian went on to get his GED from East Central Community College in 1996, and he took academic classes there. He finished an EMT basic course at Meridian Community College, and continued with this training at Holmes Community College to graduate with an associates in applied science as a paramedic. While in the paramedic program, Brian was also completing course work at Meridian Community College for an Associates in applied science in fire protection administration. He completed both these programs with honors in spring 2002. In 2014, he earned his bachelors in business administration from Eastern Kentucky University.
He met Shannon Marie Statler from Dixon and they were married Jan. 30, 2003. Their daughters, Baili Noel Taylor, 13, and Emma Clair, seven, attend Newton County Schools. Members of Conehatta Baptist Church, they live in an older house that they recently renovated and now enjoy as their home in Conehatta.
I asked about his most significant miracle from God. He said he has experienced many answered prayers, but the one that really brought him back to a closer walk with God was when his first child, Chel-sea was born.
“She was born blue, not breathing. I remember getting on my knees. He has a way of humbling you. I prayed, ‘God, please don’t let anything happen to her.’ My first wife was hemorrhaging. They called in a team. I thought I was going to lose them both, but God answered my prayers.”
I asked Brian, “What keeps you going? From life mistakes and tragedy, to more service, responsibilities, and promotion?
Brian answered, “My faith, my family, and the knowing that this is what God put me on this earth to do — this is my calling. The day my daddy died, it was just a confirmation to me that no son should see their daddy the way I had to see him. God had prepared me. I was with my two granddads and my grandmother when they took their last breaths. I know God has called me to do this and prepared me for it.”
Mr. Taylor spoke of the way God has shaped him in his life through the things he has experienced. I met him as a result of the latest huge experience of my life, when my sweet companion of more than 53 years, Royce G. Russell, died suddenly Feb. 1, 2018. As I mused over the difficulty the ambulance had in finding my house on Fifth Street, it was recommended that I speak with the 911 director about the call I made that early morning.
When I did, I found the very young-looking, friendly Brian Taylor, who was so helpful. With an attitude of compassion, he spoke of how he wants to help people, like me, who need help at all hours of the day or night. Thank God for Brian Taylor and all the fine people we have as public servants in our town, and I am also thankful for the new 911 emergency system that is now being installed.
You may contact me at lagnesrussell@gmail.com
