FOUNDERS HISTORY   |   CHURCH HISTORY

Mother Edna Lucille Tallie was born on August 31, 1920 in Fairfield, Maryland. She was educated in the public schools of Fairfield and Baltimore City Maryland.

Mother Tallie was saved and filled with the Holy Ghost at six years old. She was a faithful servant in her local church under the pastorate of Elder James F. Parker, later serving as the organist, and choir director of the junior and senior choirs.

On January 10, 1937, Edna Lucille was united in holy matrimony to a young minister, who later became Elder James D. Tallie. To their union was born four children: James (deceased), Mathew (deceased), Deborah( Supt. Leonard Spates) and Lydia (Deacon Aldolphus Wright).

Mother Tallie worked in various segments of the Church Of God In Christ. She was appointed by the late Mother Annie L. Bailey, and served for twenty-five years as the State President of the Y.W.C.C. (Young Women’s Christian Council). Mother Tallie served as the Chairlady for the state Y.P.W.W. (Young People Willing Workers) for twenty-two years. She served on the Finance committee for the State Ministers Wives Department, and she was Chairlady of the Western District women’s department.

In October 1955, Elder James D. Tallie founded Holy Faith Church. She worked as a faithful servant in performing and promoting the work of the Lord. She served as an organist, choir director, and President of the women’s department. She worked wholeheartedly in all church projects and activities. Mother Tallie was stricken with three strokes, but each time the Lord gave her the strength she needed to come back more determined to serve. At the ending of her long illness the Lord blessed her to attend three services. Her last request was to attend the evening service on Sunday August 15, 1985. She gave her final testimony of victory: “ I’m saved, I’m Saved, I’m Saved, I’m Saved, I’m Saved. Thank God!” She sang “sign me up for the christian jubilee. I’m gonna be ready when Jesus comes.” Minutes later, being ready, she suffered her fourth stroke and stepped from this world of time into a timeless world victoriously.

Dr. James D. Tallie, the last surviour of nine siblings was born on April 30, 1917 in Oakville, North Carolina. He began his education in the Oakville Public school system and continued his education at Douglas, and Wousha street trade schools after his family moved to Fairfield, Maryland. He often spoke of his love for the Lord at a young age and while playing church with his youngest sister, at the age of four, the Lord put him into a trance and revealed his calling for ministry to him.

In 1934 at the age of sixteen (16) he joined the pentecostal movement called the Church Of God In Christ, #8 located at 1710 Chesapeake Avenue, Fairfield Maryland. There he was saved along with three other young men (Elder Martin Brooks, Bishop Charles Waters Sr, and Elder Frank Wright), and received the baptism of the Holy Ghost in a revival conducted by Elder Broady. In 1935 he remembered his experieicne as a child and accepted the call to ministry. In 1937, as a young minister, he became one in holy matrimony with a young lady, named Edna Lucille Westbrook who was a gifted musician and had been saved at six (6) years of age. To this union was born four (4) children: James(deceased), Mathew (deceased), Deborah (Supt. Leonard Spates), and Lydia (Deacon Aldolphus Wright).

Under the leadership of his Pastor, Elder James F. Parker, who would later become his District Superintendent, he served for twenty-two years. His appointments before becoming Pastor of Holy Faith were as follows:

He was very fond of four individuals who served as great influences in his life. The late Bishop Charles Harrison Mason, founder of the Church In Christ who when he would come to Maryland, would visit the Tallie family home; The prophets Samuel and Elijah; the late Mother Mary Leazer, who as his grandmother in-law, helped him in his early Christian walk.

By the help of the Lord, Dr. Tallie, had many accomplishments in his life. Some of those accomplishments are as follows:

Of his numerous awards, commendations and educational degrees he was most proud of the following:

Dr. Tallie was a distinguished churchman giving over sixty-nine (69) years of his life to ministry, while never being absent for a church service be it Jurisdictional, District, or at Holy Faith.

As a humanitarian, he gave his time, finances, love, patience, support, and himself to those in need everywhere, regardless of their ethinic background, gender or race. He fed and clothed the hungry and his humanitarian spirit emanated through the ministry of Holy Faith as the church members have given numerous cartons of clothing free to the residents of the neighborhood surrounding the ministry, as well as well tended homemade food to many during sponsored dinners at Holy Faith Church.

As a man of God with a gentle, fatherly, and orderly demeanor, that had a calming effect on anyone he would speak with, Dr. Tallie was concerned about the widows, visiting the sick, praying for and counseling countless pastors, leaders and families alike.

He was never afraid to stand alone for what he believed was right. He understood well, that God had not ever given him a spirit of fear, when as one of the first Negro American operators hired by Baltimore Transit, (now known as MTA) he removed the sign that hung over a restroom that read “colored only.” He later recalled of that experience “ I took that sign down and put it in the trash and nobody ever put it up again.”

On December 31, 2002, by telephone, Dr. Tallie was able to join with the church family in prayer and singing into the new year. On January 3, 2003, Dr. Tallie, with his children at his bedside, peacefully concluded his earthly journey, and went home to await the rapture and his resurrection.

..........................................................