John H. "Bud" Traylor Jr.

1928 - 2024

"Be a preacher! Be a preacher! I want you to be a preacher!" John H. Traylor, Jr., affectionally known as "Bud," "Bro. Bud," and/or "Dr. Traylor," first heard the call of God to preach His Word as a child while sleeping on the back pew of his home church, the First United Methodist Church of Columbia, Louisiana. However, as he grew older, he turned away from God and could no longer hear the call of God to preach. But at the age of twenty-two, now returned from the Army and a junior mechanical engineering student at Louisiana Tech University and blessed in marriage to Betty Virginia Colvin, Bud turned back to God and once again heard God's call to preach. Strengthened in courage and faith by reading God's Word, Bud stepped forward to answer God's call with God's Spirit in his heart and the Bible-God's Word-- in his hand. Upon graduation from college, Bud and Betty further prepared themselves for ministry by entering the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary where Dr. Traylor ultimately earned the academic doctorate in Biblical Studies and Betty earned the Master of Religious Education degree. Against the background of both failure and success to move people to heed God's Word, Bud hammered out three guidelines for his ministry: Preach the Word; Speak in Love; Show Them How. In the course of their marriage and ministry of more than seventy-three years, Bud and Betty served seven churches as pastor and pastor's wife: Kelly Baptist Church, Kelly, Louisiana; Florida Avenue Baptist Mission, New Orleans, Louisiana; Seven Hills Baptist Church, Mobile, Alabama; College Heights Baptist Church, Plainview, Texas; Calvary Baptist Church, Tupelo, Mississippi; First Baptist Church, Gulfport, Mississippi; and First Baptist Church, Monroe, Louisiana, from which church Dr. Traylor retired after going on seventeen years as pastor. After his retirement Dr. Traylor served as interim pastor of twenty-one churches including these five in the larger Baton Rouge Area: Springfield First Baptist Church; First Baptist Church., Baker; Grosse Tete Baptist Church; Ascension Baptist Church; and Faith Baptist Church, Baker. Dr. Traylor also served as President of the Louisiana Baptist Convention, Interim President of Louisiana College, and Adjunct Professor of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. He preached through the age of ninety-two. On Thursday, December 10, 2020, he wrote this personal prayer: "Dear, Lord, I ask you in Jesus' Name to keep me effective as your servant. Although I continue to decrease in physical strength, please keep me strong in the spiritual strength you give me. Please help me especially to care for my Beloved and for other members of our family." John H. Traylor, Jr. was born to the loving union of John Hardy Traylor and Bernice Bogan Traylor on January 11, 1928, in Columbia, Louisiana and went to be with the Lord on March 6, 2024. He was preceded in passing by his two sisters, Bunkie Traylor Stotts and Betty Traylor Harris, and by his brother Judge Charles A. Traylor, II. He is survived by his Beloved wife Betty, their daughters Kathryn Traylor Johnson of Baton Rouge and Angela Traylor Mann of Clearwater Florida, and by his brother Justice Chet Traylor of Monroe, Louisiana. He is survived also by his grandchildren John Andrew Johnson, Samuel Traylor Mann, and Victoria Mann, and by his great-grandchildren Kate, Andrew, and Claire Johnson and Isabela and Elijah Traylor Mann. His grandchildren Andy, Samuel, and Victoria will serve as honorary pallbearers along with Joey Bayham, Billy Benton, Baker Boyd, and Jim Jenkins. Bud and Betty wish to pay special tribute to their Parkview Sunday School Class and especially to teachers, Al and Susan Stevens and Camile and Mae Gaspard, for their loving care. Bud was a member of American Legion Post 58 having served in the US Army Signal Corps during the occupational phase of WWII. Relatives and friends are invited to attend the Memorial Service at Parkview Baptist Church, 11795 Jefferson Highway in Baton Rouge Friday, March 15, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. with pastors Chris DeGeorge, Mark Robinson, and Arnold Austin presiding. A Memorial Visitation will be held at the church beginning at 10:00 a.m. The family will attend a private inurnment at Resthaven Gardens of Memory. Family and friends may sign the online guestbook or leave a personal note to the family at www.resthavenbatonrouge.com.