Tributes

https://online.flippingbook.com/view/513811642/ https://livestream.com/accounts/7325565/anyawiley https://vimeo.com/796536068 Anya Evette Taylor Wiley was born to Lester Ray Taylor and Carol Finley Taylor at 2:19 pm on Thursday, September 27, 1984, in Austin Texas. Anya was dedicated and given back to Christ at the age of 3 months. Her mother told God that she didn’t know how to care for a child and needed His help. Anya’s unique name came from a 1980 TV movie that told the story of a Russian gold medal gymnast who met an American athlete just before the Moscow Olympics and the role was played by actor Anya Andreyer. Later in life, Anya learned that the name “Anya” means “Eyes” in Africa. As a young child, Anya was very independent and headstrong, and she settled her eternal destination when she accepted Jesus Christ as her personal Savior at a very young age. Her educational foundation began at Lillie Finnin’s in-home daycare until she turned 4 years old and then she moved to Central Christian School located at 5900 Cameron Road (which later became the home of Mt. Sinai Baptist Church). The remainder of her school years were spent at AISD schools including Pease Elementary, where she became a Girl Scout, Martin Middle School, and LBJ High School where she was a proud member of the LBJ High School Marching Band under the direction of Don T. Haynes and had the opportunity to tour London and Paris with the band. Anya loved to sing and from the ages of 10-17, she sang with the Gospel Music Workshop of America (GMWA) Recording Choirs; Christians With Voices (CWV); Minister Rayshod Caldwell, and in her later years with Chester D.T. Baldwin and Music Ministry Mass (M3) as well as the Mount Sinai Baptist Church Choir. In 2002 Anya graduated from LBJ High School with High Honors and in the top 10 percent of her class. Before graduation, she received several academic scholarships and decided to attend Texas Tech University in Lubbock, TX. Anya was always good with numbers and for that reason decided to major in accounting in college. During her sophomore year, she returned home to Austin and gave birth to her son, Jeremiah Alan Wiley II. Proverbs 24:3-4 (NIV) says “By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding, it is established; through knowledge, its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures.” On July 3, 2004, Anya united with Jeremiah Wiley, Sr. in the bond of holy matrimony. Then came the challenge of home life, school, work, and church. Anya worked part-time at the Mt. Sinai Christian Academy for a few years and later served on the Christian Academy’s Advisory Board while working at Studio Sixty-5 and continuing to pursue her degree at Texas State University (which at that time was known as Southwest Texas State University) in San Marcos, TX. Proverbs 24:5-6 (NIV) also says “A wise man has great power; a man of knowledge increases strength; for waging war you need guidance and for victory many advisers.” Anya and Jeremiah Sr. became regular students of the Marriage Ministry Sunday School class led by Deacon Ray and Deaconess Carolyn Ates. The guidance given by the Ates’ and the lessons learned in these classes greatly helped the couple navigate married life. In May of 2007, Anya celebrated another milestone in her life, receiving her bachelor’s degree in Accounting with a Minor in Business from Texas State University. Following the completion of her studies, Anya began her professional work career as an employee of the State of Texas at the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), followed by the Office of the Comptroller of Public Accounts and her final position at the Sunset Advisory Commission where she was employed as the Director of Business Operations at the time of her passing. On August 16, 2012, Anya and Jeremiah joyously welcomed their second child, daughter, Aniyah Diane Wiley, which marked the completion of their family of four, and her role of motherhood. Despite her hectic home, work, and church schedules, nothing was ever more important to her than taking care of her family and being present and involved in the lives of her children. Whether it was supporting Jeremiah II in basketball and baseball or Aniyah in dance and Girl Scouts, she gave every endeavor her all and all 100%! In addition to being a dedicated dance mom for Dancin’ Jazzi and Flava Dance Company, a Troop Leader for Girl Scouts Troop #42117 where she and Aniyah won many awards for being “Top Cookie Sellers” she was also active in the PTA at Pease, and Bryker Woods Elementary Schools, where she was currently serving as Secretary of the PTA Board. A faithful member of Mt. Sinai Baptist Church since her youth, Anya was also an active participant in many ministries of the church including the Church Choir, JUBAL, Women’s Ministry, Youth Ministry, and Sunday School. In March 2019, when the Covid-19 pandemic struck and like other churches Mt. Sinai was forced to close its doors, Anya accepted the assignment to join members of the Praise and Worship team who would still attend church every Sunday to provide worship music for the live-stream audience. In October 2021, Anya learned that her life would forever be changed when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. With unwavering faith and trust in God, she faced the challenge head-on and kept pushing until the end of her earthly journey when she heard her Master’s call to come home and take her rest on January 17, 2023, at 3:37 pm. As she answered His call, we believe that as Timothy said best, in 2 Timothy 4:7-8 (NIV) she victoriously proclaimed! “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day – and not only to me but also to all who have longed for his appearing.” Anya was preceded in death by her paternal and maternal grandparents, great-grandparents several uncles, great-uncles, and great-aunts. She leaves to cherish her memory her husband, Jeremiah Wiley Sr., son, Jeremiah Alan Wiley II, and daughter, Aniyah Diane Wiley. Her mother, Carol D. Finley Taylor; father, Lester Ray Taylor (Kelva); siblings, Tamrah Taylor and Brent Taylor; aunts, Cathy Chatman of Waco and Sharon Dyane Taylor of Manor; a supportive great aunt Margie and great uncle Freddie Cormier of Houston; her extended family members, father-in-law, Charles Walsh (Ellen); mother in-law, RMitchell, grandparents-in-law, Wade and Joyce Collie; sister-in-law Joycelyn; godmother, Rosa Hunt and, godfather, John Townsend; bonus father, G. Alan Griffin; bonus mother, Phyllis Burns; godsisters, Karal Fields and Regina Marshall; special uncle and aunt Dr. Barry J.W. “The Shepard” Franklin, CFSP and Marie Franklin, special family friend, Otis Demerson, her Mt. Sinai Church family, and a host of other family members, relatives, and friends.

Tributes

Anya Evette Taylor Wiley

September 27, 1984 - January 17, 2023