Archer Sidney Taliaferro

Archer Sidney Taliaferro, of San Antonio, Texas, died peacefully early Monday morning, May 2, 2016, at his home at 12:24am. He was 91 years old. Archer is survived by his three sons, John (Pam), Roy (Bonnie), and Michael (Anne-Brigitte). He is also survived by seven grandchildren Jesse (Helen), Sam (Penelope), Emily (Tyler), Luke (Leanna), Matthew (Erin), Nathan, and Joshua. Archer has three great grandchildren, Skye, Archer, and Lukas. Archer is also survived by several nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his father Albert Sidney, mother Nell Jasper, brothers Walter and Achilles, and sisters Ellen, Nell, and Mary Louise. Archer lost his beloved wife of 61 years, Jency Evelyn Taliaferro to cancer in 2012.

Archer was born on March 8, 1925, in Dallas, Texas. He graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School in Dallas in 1942. When World War 2 broke out he volunteered for the US Navy, and after finishing High School, he served as a Naval Aviator (navigator) aboard PBY's in the Pacific. His brother Walter also served heroically. He served until June of 1946. He remained in the Naval Reserve and was honorably discharged in 1960.

After the war, Archer graduated from Southern Methodist University, opened several grocery stores with his brother Walter, and married Jency Evelyn Antonson on January 31, 1951. After his three sons were born, Archer moved the family to Arlington, Virginia in 1961 as part of his work with the Internal Revenue Service. He served as an elder in the Falls Church, Church of Christ, and then helped plant the Washinton DC International Church of Christ in 1989. Early meetings were held in their home. Archer retired from the IRS, and served as both an administrator and elder for the church. Jency was a public school teacher, and they moved to Lothian, Maryland, to a comfortable two-acre plot.

In 1996, after Jency retired, they boldly accepted the invitation to move to Johannesburg, South Africa as missionaries. After obtaining their visas, they arrived in 1997, and bought the house next door to Mike and Anne-Brigitte. Archer served the church as an elder.

In 2003, Archer and Jency moved to San Antonio, where Archer served the Mission Point Christian Church as an elder. Though often a man of few words, he was deeply respected and loved. He died last week from congestive heart failure. He lived a long and full life, devoted to God and family. He will be sorely missed.

The family wishes to thank Rebecca Phillips for the home care she provided. Also Karim Torres, Austin Wright, Mason Pesquera, Nick Ziegler, and many others who were especially sacrificial in assisting Archer in his final months. We offer a special thanks as well to Drs Joe Cole and Becky Quiroz for their advice and care. We also thank everyone at Mission Point for their prayers and encouragement.

Archer will be remembered as a devout Christian, loving husband, devoted father and grandfather, and courageous patriot. Though he will be dearly missed, we look forward to seeing him with God and the saints in the glory that is yet to be revealed.

A visitation will be held from 6-8pm on Tuesday, May 10th at the Porter Loring Mortuary on 1604 and Gold Canyon in San Antonio. The funeral will be on Wednesday morning at 11am at the same location. A short graveside service will be held afterward at Fort Sam Houston where Archer will be buried with full military honors.