Gillespie House dba Taylor's Place

The mission of Taylor's Place is to provide a welcoming, faith-based, home-like atmosphere for Texas A&M students as they face the challenges of transitioning into university life; and to provide accommodations for the families of Texas A&M University students who otherwise could not afford to visit their students due to financial hardship.

Taylor's Place is named after Taylor Gillespie, who was a student at Texas A&M University. He was known for his bright smile, sense of humor, playful attitude, loyal friendship and service, and the ability to make everyone around him immediately feel like a best friend. Sadly, Taylor passed away on January 9, 2011, after a tragic car accident while on his way back to A&M to finish his last semester before graduating in May.

Taylor's Place is open to students as well as their families and all are welcomed by T.J. and Tanya Gillespie (Taylor's parents). They have always opened their home to kids who needed extra support, a stable family to look up to, or just a home-cooked meal and a listening ear. With Taylor's Place, we invite students to host their organizational parties, class or Corps projects, or simply hang out in a comfortable, homelike setting.

Testimonials

Being a single mom, with a cadet at A&M, and a junior in high school is overwhelming at times. It's not just a juggling act of time, but one of financial demands for 2 teenage boys, as well. While in my heart I want to be at every game and activity my cadet is involved in, that is just not possible with my budget.

That is where "Taylor's Place" comes in. This 501C3 provides moms like me, and families, a place to spend the night in College Station, at little or no cost. It was truly a godsend to me during his first semester, and not just as a place to lay my head. Their hospitality and experience with the Aggie way of life played a huge role in me being comfortable with my son being away from home for the first time in his life.

Tanya and TJ welcomed us as family, treated us like royalty, and truly ministered to me in some of my sad moments. There are many stories told around the fire pit. Just hanging out with seasoned Aggies or a First Gen like my cadet, it always feels like home there. They also provide a place for cadets to enjoy dinner with friends when they can't travel home for holidays. It's nice knowing if I can't hug my cadet on a holiday, Tanya and TJ will!

Their faithfulness to Aggies, cadets, familes and God is so evident in their personal lives and in the way they run Taylor's Place. While most adults would grovel in their pain and grief, Tanya and TJ have made a conscious decision to remember their son by being the "Maroon and White Bed and Breakfast" of College Station. Thank you just doesn't seem like enough for their graciousness and hospitality.

While there is no fee for staying at Taylor's Place, donations are always welcome. I can think of no better place to see a return on an investment that Taylor's Place.

Kay Miller, Aggie Mom

Taylor's Place has been such a blessing to our family! This ministry has done just what it set out to do - it has allowed us to spend more time with our cadet (Dylan '19) throughout his time at A&M. Distance and finances limited us severely, even preventing us from traveling to College Station when our son spent three nights in the hospital and had an emergency oral surgery. Fortunately, we discovered Taylor's Place near the end of his freshman year. Since then, Taylor's Place has allowed us to be there for ALL the important events, including graduation. And the best part is…the new friends we have in Tanya & TJ!

Grant & Nicole Sutton '96