Recently observing their 50th anniversary, the Rev. Vaughny Taylor and his wife Celia had the unusual pleasure of seeing Celia’s parents, Robert and Leona Smith of Odessa, celebrate their 75th.
Still living together in their own home, the Smiths were married on May 14, 1947, at Spur in the Panhandle while the Taylors have been together since Jan. 14, 1972, all of which inspires the pastor of Central Baptist Church to observe that too many couples give up too readily.
Also, rather notably, Taylor has been either music minister or pastor of his church for 38 years.
“The institution of marriage has taken a lot of different turns over our lifetimes,” he said. “Marriage is one of the things that God has ordained and people should take it seriously.”
Both Vaughny and Celia are only children and have thereby been especially close to their families, Celia said. “Just seeing my parents together through the years, you can always work anything out by putting God first,” she said.
“Watching them love each other has been a great example.”
Taylor, a singer, began working as a music minister at Henderson Heights Baptist Church west of town as an Odessa High School sophomore and he served in that role at Vine Street Baptist Church for 12 years before joining Central Baptist, where he became pastor 15 years ago. He attended Odessa College for two years. His 1416 N. Texas Ave. church averages 50-60 people at 10:30 a.m. Sunday.
“It’s a legacy,” Taylor said. “Going back four generations, my side of the family has had four couples who were married for 50 years or longer, which is rare for people. One of the main things is to live for God. God has blessed us for sure.”
Taylor was director of construction for the Midland Independent School District till his retirement there four years, ago. He and his wife have three children.
“You have to have mutual respect and work through problems,” he said. “Take into consideration that everyone has their own special needs and find a common ground, something that makes sense for both people. It’s something you have to do 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Love the other person as much as yourself and a lot of times put their needs before yours.”
Taylor said staying at one church for so long is also a matter of being obedient to God. “God puts you in situations and you have to be able to work through those,” he said.
“I have been fortunate every place I’ve been.”
