Murrie L. Cooper (Taylor)
Murrie L. Cooper (Taylor) was born September 7, 1924 in Tunica, Mississippi. She was the sixth of 15 children born to Lucy and James Cooper. Murrie was baptized in 1938 at the age of 13 at Spring Hill Missionary Baptist Church in Earle, Arkansas by Reverend Herman. Devoted to completing her education, she attended Washington School and later enrolled at Danville Area Community College where she earned her
General Education Development Certificate.
At age 18, she moved to Swedesboro, New Jersey and worked for H. F. Huff Canning Factory. In 1945 at age 21, she moved to the Champaign-Urbana area. She later married Mathis Taylor. To this union five children were born. Three of the five siblings are still living. She has 12 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren ranging in age from 20 years to 11 months. Murrie's husband died in 1983 so all of her love and trust today is
given to Jesus Christ.
When Mrs. Taylor moved to Champaign, she joined Salem Baptist Church under the pastorship of Rev. Donaldson. She ushered there for 21 years. In 1964, she was crowned Usher ofthe Year. In 1966, she moved to Freewill Baptist Church, pastored by Rev. Arthur Burks and remained there until 1977 when she became a chartered member of Canaan Missionary Baptist Church under the leadership of her current Pastor, Rev. B. J. Tatum. She was a faithful member of the Usher Board for 22 years, serving three years as president. She has been a member of Canaan's Mother's Board since 2002.
Murrie worked at the Egg Plant for five years before it closed. She also worked more than 20 years at Kraft before retiring in 1990.
She is currently a member of The Douglass Senior Citizens' group. Mrs. Taylor loves cooking, gardening and listening to gospel music and "fired up" preachers on tape. She is known best for her favorite dishes: tea cakes, greens, chicken and dumplings and peach cobbler.
Her Words of Wisdom are: "Mean what you say and say what you mean."
One of her most Special Life Memories was in 2004 when her family gave her an 80th Birthday Celebration. They told her at that time that she was the greatest gift that God had ever given to them. They presented her with a plaque, which she proudly displays on her "living room" wall. She will never forget that day.
Her favorite Biblical Character is Nehemiah because in all of his difficulties, he always depended on the Lord for his strength. Her favorite Scripture is the 51st Psalm: "Have mercy upon me, 0 God, according to thy loving kindness according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin ... "
She says this is her DAILY prayer and has committed this Scripture to memory.
