The Reverend Bernitha Fling Taylor is a retired Itinerate Elder who served the church as a lifelong member and pastor.  Before entering the ministry in 1984.  she served as the church musician for her home church, St. Mary AME Church, in Marion, South Carolina.

Rev. Taylor is a Graduate of the former Jonakin High School and a member of the second Class of License Practical Nursing (LPN) from the Marion-Mullins Vocational School of Practical Nursing in 1970.  She was among the first eight African American women to receive an LPN licensure in Marion County.  She served as an LPN Nurse in the community for 38 years.

Rev. Taylor was admitted to the Northeast Conference to pursue Itinerate Orders in 1984.  She was among the first women to be admitted into the Marion District.  She received her Deacon’s ordination in 1988 and was the only woman among the twelve who were ordained.  At the time of her Itinerant Elder ordination in 1988, she was again the only woman among the twelve men in the class of fourth-year studies to receive itinerate orders. 

Rev. Taylor received her first and only appointment was to Magnolia (Bigham) AME Church in Dillion, SC, where she served faithfully until her retirement (15 years). Additionally, she served after retirement at Savannah Grove AME Church, Lamar, SC, following the passing of the late Reverend Steven Gilchrist.  She serves as an invitational preacher and  church musician at her home Church, St Mary AME Church, where the Reverend John Brown is pastor. She stepped out on faith answering the call of God to preach the Gospel when women pastoring churches was a rarity in the Northeast Annual Conference.

Rev. Taylor is a widow with five children, two of whom are adopted, twelve grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren.