Taylor Strickland Family Reunion

John Henry Strickland was born May 24, 1861 in Westfield, located in Surry County, North Carolina to James Wesley and Senie Strickland. Biddie Esther Taylor was born March 12, 1859 in Patrick County, VA to Stewart and Jane Taylor. She and John were married on January 8, 1882.  They had thirteen children; Elizabeth Calpernia (b.1883), Senie Jane (b.1884), Stuart Wesley(b.1885), John Henry Jr.(b.1887), Edna Agnes(b.1888), Esther Ellen(b.1889), Lou Frances,(b.1890),  Samuel Llewelyn (b.1892), Arthur Lee (b.1893), George Abraham (b.1894) Ardella (b.1896), Mary Biddie (b.1899) and Lillie Ann (b.1902).  They had over eighty grandchildren and today there are hundreds if not thousands of people who trace their ancestry to them. 

Our fore-parents were steadfast in their religious beliefs and in rearing their children centered in Christ. They were proud, hard working and community-minded people. They were sharecroppers who later owned their land, which was an extraordinary accomplishment at that time. They also served their community well. John Henry and Biddie were active members of Davis Primitive Baptist Church in Prestonville, NC.  John served his county as the Supervisor of Schools.  This was considered quite a prestigious job.  It was his responsibility to see that the schools had qualified teachers, desks, school supplies, as well as wood and wood stove for warmth in the winter months.  The job also required that he oversee an accurate school census.  He and Biddie encouraged folks in their community to seize every opportunity to get an education.  They made sure that each of their children received at least a seventh grade education, which was an outstanding achievement in those days.  Each of their children were known to be talented and intelligent.  They were good Bible students and scholars.  Some of them became teachers after they received all of the education that was available to them.

Biddie died on May 24, 1915 and was buried in Kay Fork Cemetery in Stokes County, NC. John Henry spent his final years in Ridgeway, Va and died on September 30, 1945.  

  John and Biddie passed their sense of pride and respectability on to their children who were able to own and work land of their own; become educators, and business owners.  Their children in turn passed down the same beliefs and determinations to their children, and so forth.  Today we hope to continue their legacy.  The Strickland-Taylor bloodline includes teachers, doctors, lawyers, engineers, business owners, judges, professors and a plethora of highly educated and highly skilled individuals.  We have college graduates from across the country; from Harvard to Howard, from A&T to Baylor, from UCLA to UNCC.  Now, more than ever it is so important that the younger generation understand that they come from such good stock.  They need to know that they come from people who not only survived incredible hardships, but thrived despite the obstacles placed before them.  They need to know that their forefathers and foremothers often crawled so they could fly.  It is our duty as their beneficiaries to hold them in our hearts and keep their memory alive. 

Every year over one hundred family members come together to honor their memory. It is a day of fun, learning, connection, and remembrance.  

If you are reading this, our hope is that you will join us on this day of celebration.  This year it will be at High Point City Lake Park Aquatic Center in the Meeting and Event Center. https://www.highpointnc.gov/2705Meeting-Event-Center

Sources of Information: 

John Henry Strickland Family Bible, Descendants of John and Biddie, Census Tracts and other public sources, “The Strickland-Taylor Family, a Family of Unique History,” compiled by Sedalia Strickland-Horton.

Family history was originally compiled by Olean Strickland Keen. Updates have been made by Hazel Broadnax and Winifred Martin