Obituary for Towanda Ophelia Bynum (Taylor)
Obituary
Towanda “Tee” Ophelia Bynum of Waldorf, Maryland transitioned to the everlasting arms of her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on June 28, 2022. Towanda was born on July 27, 1961, to James Earl (deceased) and Shirley Delores Taylor, and was the second child of nine children. She was raised with strong family values in the Christian faith. Her living faith in Jesus Christ was the anchor that carried her through difficult times and was an inspiration to all who were blessed to know her.
Towanda grew up in Prince George’s County, Maryland where she received her education through the county’s public school system. Immediately after graduating from Surrattsville Senior High School in Clinton, Maryland, Towanda began a civil service career with the United States Federal Government, serving 35 years, until her retirement in 2014. During her career she served at various agencies including, U.S. Air Force (Air Force One), Housing and Urban Development, Department of Homeland Security, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and ended her profession at U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Towanda also took courses at Strayer University to enhance her career, and met many colleagues who would later become life-long friends.
In 1986 she was gifted with her first child, James Jackson, III followed by a second son in 1987, Keith B. Jackson. Later Towanda met the love of her life, Anthony L. Bynum and they wed in holy matrimony on October 12, 1991. Of that union Towanda gained a bonus son, Anthony L. Bynum, and birthed another gift from God, Taylor A. Bynum.
In addition to family, Towanda passionately loved three things--the Lord, drama and cheerleading. She began her spiritual walk with Christ as a teenager at Westphalia United Methodist Church in Upper Marlboro, Maryland. At Westphalia Towanda often directed church plays and hosted talent shows to raise money for church missions. In 2012, Towanda partnered with the Abundant Life Family Fellowship Church (ALFF) where she developed and led the Children’s Ministry. Towanda faithfully served at ALFF even as her health began to decline. She walked by faith and was a pillar of strength for her church community. It is fitting that her favorite scripture was, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” (Philippians 4:13). She had peace in good times and bad times, in sickness and in health, because she had come to the point of realization that her sufficiency was solely in her Savior.
In 1997, Towanda pursued her passion of cheerleading and working with the youth by serving as a volunteer coach to the Fort Washington Boys and Girls Club. Then, in 2003 Towanda formed Faith Christian Development Center (FCDC), a 501(c)3 organization with a mission to impart spiritual development to youth through competitive cheerleading, gymnastics and related activities. Through FCDC she hosted annual summer camps and cheerleading bootcamps to provide a safe environment for children to develop decision-making, social and leadership skills. In partnership with other coaches, Towanda successfully launched In the Spirit, TNT Power and Trinity Allstars Cheerleading squads. She loved all the youth who were affiliated with the organization as if they were her own children. She was proud to contribute to countless championships and accomplishments, including a feature on Fox 5 morning news and making history as the first all African American cheerleading squad to be awarded The World Spirit Federation’s National Championship trophy, as featured in Jet Magazine.
Towanda was tiny in stature, but feisty and fearless with faith to produce miracles. If you had a difficult, seemingly impossible circumstance, Towanda was always just a call (or prayer) away. She would listen to your prayer request and then begin to prophetically pray by faith. Later, you would experience the outcome of her petitions to God through answered prayer. Thank God for her relationship with Christ and fervent, effective intercession! She will be missed by the many people who crossed her path. Like the Apostle Paul, she fought the good fight, finished her course, and kept the faith. Now, she has received her heavenly crown. We can imagine her cheering in heaven, “I got the spirit! Yes, I do!...I got the spirit, how bout you? I got the V-I-C-T-O-RY!”
Towanda was predeceased by her father, James E. Taylor, and brother Keith L. Taylor. Precious memories will be shared by those she leaves behind: her devoted and loving husband Anthony L. Bynum, sons Anthony L. Bynum, James Jackson, III and Keith B. Jackson, daughter Taylor A. Bynum, grandchildren Caiden A. Posey, KaMorah L. Bynum, Aubree L. Bynum, Patience J. Jackson and Kamari B. Jackson, her mother Shirley D. Taylor, sisters Bonita M. Huff (Michael), Cecelia L. Harris (André), Renee W. Matthews (Reginald), Janel L. Burdette (Antonio), brothers Tracy D. Taylor (Leonora), Lawrence R. Taylor and Troy E. Taylor (Sheba), mother-in-law Carol Cunningham (Tyrone), brothers-in-law Ronald Diggins, Micheal Diggins (Rita), Tyrone Cunningham, Ernest Cunningham, and Donté Bynum (Sybil), godchildren Jamar Johnson, Tamika Cook, Deondré Taylor, Lawrence Taylor, II, Aujae Gilchrist, Jaden Robersone and Ariana Cook, 27 nieces and nephews, 19 great nieces and nephews and a host of relatives and friends, including her cheerleading and ALFF Church families.
Towanda “Tee” Ophelia Bynum of Waldorf, Maryland transitioned to the everlasting arms of her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on June 28, 2022. Towanda was born on July 27, 1961, to James Earl (deceased) and Shirley Delores Taylor, and was the second child of nine children. She was raised with strong family values in the Christian faith. Her living faith in Jesus Christ was the anchor that carried her through difficult times and was an inspiration to all who were blessed to know her.
Towanda grew up in Prince George’s County, Maryland where she received her education through the county’s public school system. Immediately after graduating from Surrattsville Senior High School in Clinton, Maryland, Towanda began a civil service career with the United States Federal Government, serving 35 years, until her retirement in 2014. During her career she served at various agencies including, U.S. Air Force (Air Force One), Housing and Urban Development, Department of Homeland Security, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and ended her profession at U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Towanda also took courses at Strayer University to enhance her career, and met many colleagues who would later become life-long friends.
In 1986 she was gifted with her first child, James Jackson, III followed by a second son in 1987, Keith B. Jackson. Later Towanda met the love of her life, Anthony L. Bynum and they wed in holy matrimony on October 12, 1991. Of that union Towanda gained a bonus son, Anthony L. Bynum, and birthed another gift from God, Taylor A. Bynum.
In addition to family, Towanda passionately loved three things--the Lord, drama and cheerleading. She began her spiritual walk with Christ as a teenager at Westphalia United Methodist Church in Upper Marlboro, Maryland. At Westphalia Towanda often directed church plays and hosted talent shows to raise money for church missions. In 2012, Towanda partnered with the Abundant Life Family Fellowship Church (ALFF) where she developed and led the Children’s Ministry. Towanda faithfully served at ALFF even as her health began to decline. She walked by faith and was a pillar of strength for her church community. It is fitting that her favorite scripture was, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” (Philippians 4:13). She had peace in good times and bad times, in sickness and in health, because she had come to the point of realization that her sufficiency was solely in her Savior.
In 1997, Towanda pursued her passion of cheerleading and working with the youth by serving as a volunteer coach to the Fort Washington Boys and Girls Club. Then, in 2003 Towanda formed Faith Christian Development Center (FCDC), a 501(c)3 organization with a mission to impart spiritual development to youth through competitive cheerleading, gymnastics and related activities. Through FCDC she hosted annual summer camps and cheerleading bootcamps to provide a safe environment for children to develop decision-making, social and leadership skills. In partnership with other coaches, Towanda successfully launched In the Spirit, TNT Power and Trinity Allstars Cheerleading squads. She loved all the youth who were affiliated with the organization as if they were her own children. She was proud to contribute to countless championships and accomplishments, including a feature on Fox 5 morning news and making history as the first all African American cheerleading squad to be awarded The World Spirit Federation’s National Championship trophy, as featured in Jet Magazine.
Towanda was tiny in stature, but feisty and fearless with faith to produce miracles. If you had a difficult, seemingly impossible circumstance, Towanda was always just a call (or prayer) away. She would listen to your prayer request and then begin to prophetically pray by faith. Later, you would experience the outcome of her petitions to God through answered prayer. Thank God for her relationship with Christ and fervent, effective intercession! She will be missed by the many people who crossed her path. Like the Apostle Paul, she fought the good fight, finished her course, and kept the faith. Now, she has received her heavenly crown. We can imagine her cheering in heaven, “I got the spirit! Yes, I do!...I got the spirit, how bout you? I got the V-I-C-T-O-RY!”
Towanda was predeceased by her father, James E. Taylor, and brother Keith L. Taylor. Precious memories will be shared by those she leaves behind: her devoted and loving husband Anthony L. Bynum, sons Anthony L. Bynum, James Jackson, III and Keith B. Jackson, daughter Taylor A. Bynum, grandchildren Caiden A. Posey, KaMorah L. Bynum, Aubree L. Bynum, Patience J. Jackson and Kamari B. Jackson, her mother Shirley D. Taylor, sisters Bonita M. Huff (Michael), Cecelia L. Harris (André), Renee W. Matthews (Reginald), Janel L. Burdette (Antonio), brothers Tracy D. Taylor (Leonora), Lawrence R. Taylor and Troy E. Taylor (Sheba), mother-in-law Carol Cunningham (Tyrone), brothers-in-law Ronald Diggins, Micheal Diggins (Rita), Tyrone Cunningham, Ernest Cunningham, and Donté Bynum (Sybil), godchildren Jamar Johnson, Tamika Cook, Deondré Taylor, Lawrence Taylor, II, Aujae Gilchrist, Jaden Robersone and Ariana Cook, 27 nieces and nephews, 19 great nieces and nephews and a host of relatives and friends, including her cheerleading and ALFF Church families.