Donald Ross Taylor

VICKSBURG, Miss. (VDN) — Don was born on September 6, 1938, in Utica, MS, to the late Richard Clyde Taylor, Sr. and Mary Thelma Ross Taylor.

Don married Virginia Stroud on July 12, 1958. They met at Freed-Hardeman College and after two months and two days, they were married! They renewed their vows on their 25th and 50th anniversaries and would have been married 68 years this July. More than anything else, Don loved the Lord and preached the good news of Jesus from the early age of 15 until the age of 82.

Don was a missionary to French churches in Belgium from 1960-1970, taught two years at David Lipscomb University, then spent 1972-1975 serving French churches in Montreal, Canada.

Don earned an M.A. degree in French in 1977 and Ph.D. in Comparative Literature from the University of Southern Mississippi in 1987. He taught eight years at Magnolia Bible College in Kosciusko, MS (1979-1987), twenty years as the Professor of Languages and Literature at Freed-Hardeman University (FHU) in Henderson, TN (1987-2007), and preached for numerous congregations in Mississippi and Tennessee.

While at FHU, Don and Virginia created the International Studies Program operating out of Verviers, Belgium, allowing students the opportunity to travel all over Europe while pursuing a semester of classes; a program which continues to this day.

Don authored several books and commentaries which include: Commentaire Sur L’epitre Aux Galates (the first French commentary written by a member of the Church of Christ); Commentary on Revelation; The Apocalypse: A Revelation of Jesus Christ; The Righteousness of God: A study of Paul’s epistle to the Romans; Commentary on the Prophecy of Daniel; Words to Live By (a collection of articles); God’s Literature (a guide to the types of literature found in the Bible); My Story, Really! (an autobiography); A Garden of Roses (a collection of poetry); and Autumn’s Child (a collection of poetry).

Preceded in death by Richard Clyde Taylor, Sr (father), Mary Thelma Ross Taylor (mother), and Richard Clyde Taylor, Jr (brother).

Survived by Virginia Stroud Taylor (wife of 67 years); son Bruce (Debbie), children Ashley and Patrick; son David (Melissa), children Morgan (Kyle) Fernandez, children Jace and Zeke, Sydney (Patrick) Hutto, and Marshall (Gracie); daughter Suzanne, child Margret Dobbs; sister Amy (Carroll) Foote, children Christopher and Jayson; beloved in-laws Ken Pinckard, Joe (Karen) Stroud, Robert (Beverly) Stroud, and their children and grandchildren.

Memorial Services will be held Saturday, May 30, 2026, at the Henderson Church of Christ, 240 White Ave, Henderson, TN, with visitation beginning at 10am, and services at 11am. International friends may livestream the service at https://hendersoncoc.live at 11am CST. Burial will be held on Saturday, June 6, 2026, following a small service at 10am at the Midway Church of Christ, 1005 Midway Road, Utica, MS.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Donald R. and Virginia Stroud Taylor International Studies Endowed Scholarship at Freed-Hardeman University at https://fhu.edu/give (look for Ways to Give – Endowed Scholarships).