With the publication of That Amazing Junk-Man in spring 2007, the very first book signing took place at my home congregation, Warwick River Mennonite Church in Newport News, Virginia. It was the best book-signing experience anyone could ask for. Two sisters-in-law made the fellowship hall festive with fresh flowers. They served homemade pastries and hot tea.

We had sent a special invitation to family members of Preacher Taylor (who was indeed “That Amazing Junk-Man”). Heartwarming for all of us was the arrival of Preacher James Taylor’s three daughters, a son, and grandson. Thressa (Taylor) Edwards and her husband Arthur came early and stayed late. They brought pictures to share. Next to arrive were her sisters, Naomi (Taylor) Francisco and Leoney Orie, Ernestine Taylor, their brother Samuel Lightfoot Taylor, and Jason Edwards, a grandson.

The first chapter in this second book, “Happy Am I,” comes from the memories gleaned at that gathering and in the ensuing months. Since that day Thressa has kept in touch with us through phone calls and letters. We have learned much more about the Taylor family, especially “Preacher Taylor.”

During my childhood and teen years I admired Preacher Taylor as a colorful preacher and a flamboyant “Junk-Man” who could walk into our orchard and climb the ladder and pick apples and throw them into the basket on top of his head without touching the basket. I did not bother to learn about his family. Our worlds were divided into black and white, far apart in the 1940s and 1950s.

Then in 2001 the folk opera, Cross Tides, was produced and presented at the Yoder Barn in Newport News, Virginia. Stories were gleaned from oral histories of “The Colony.” A central character was James Taylor, friend, elder, preacher, and junk-dealer. The children and grandchildren of Elder Taylor worked with the producers, adding their stories. These were incorporated into the folk opera, and all of us learned things we had never known about this amazing Junk-Man and his family.

Steve Fannin, editor of The Warwick River Tide wrote in March 2001: “On opening night, John David Yoder welcomed the audience. He acknowledged family members of James Taylor . . . including twin infant great granddaughters [Kendyl and Keanna] with their parents.”

Cross Tides provided a setting for the children of the Colony and the Junk-Man to learn to know each other. Children and grandchildren of Elder James Taylor filled roles alongside the children and grandchildren of the Mennonite Colony.
Regarding the opera, Thressa Taylor Edwards says, “They strove to bring out the truth of the era. . . . I don’t think my father necessarily saw [the Mennonites] as white people. They were people he enjoyed being around. . . . We tend to bring in the black and white issue. To him that was not relevant.”

From Thressa I learned that her father was born in Kingston, Jamaica, in 1902 (the same year my father was born) and came to Newport News in 1927. He married a beautiful woman, Carrie Rowe from Williamsburg, Virginia, and they raised eight children.

Preacher Taylor accepted Christ under the guidance of Elder Lightfoot Solomon Michaux, the “Happy Am I” radio preacher. (For a video of Elder Michaux preaching and singing see YouTube—Elder Michaux—Happy Am I.)
During about thirty years Taylor served as assistant pastor and field evangelist under Elder Michaux. When Michaux traveled to his other churches in Philadelphia and Washington D.C., Preacher Taylor was responsible to take care of the local church.

Thressa still attends the Church of God in downtown Newport News, where we young people from the Colony went to hear her father preach. When I asked her about the song “Happy Am I,” I learned that the choir still sings the song, and she sent me the sheet music.

Thressa remembers her father returning home from his day’s work and telling about his dealings in the Mennonite Colony. His children knew about our community and families, but we did not know much about his community and family.

In later years the Taylor family grew closer to the Mennonite church. Preacher Taylor’s funeral was held on October 1, 1980, at Calvary Mennonite Church in Newport News, Virginia, where his daughter’s husband, Leslie Francisco, was the pastor.

Now that you have read this Introduction, chapter 1, “Happy Am I with My Redeemer,” will mean more to you. You may also want to reread chapter 1, “We Called Him Preacher Taylor,” in my previous book, That Amazing Junk-Man (Cascadia Publishing House, 2007).