David Talley

David Prescott Talley (born September 11, 1950) is an American Catholic prelate who has served as bishop of Memphis in Tennessee since 2019.

Talley previously served as coadjutor bishop and bishop of the Diocese of Alexandria in Louisiana (2016 to 2019) and as an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Atlanta in Georgia (2013 to 2016).

Biography

Early life David Talley was born in Columbus, Georgia, on September 11, 1950. Raised as a Southern Baptist,Talley converted to Catholicism in 1974 while in college. After graduating from Auburn University in Auburn, Alabama, he entered the University of Georgia in Athens, Georgia, receiving a Master of Social Work degree. Talley then served as a children's caseworker in Fulton County, Georgia.

After deciding to enter the priesthood, Talley began his studies at St. Meinrad School of Theology in St. Meinrad, Indiana. He received a Master of Divinity degree from St. Meinrad in 1989. He was consecrated at the Cathedral of Christ the King on April 2, 2013, by Archbishop Wilton Gregory, with Bishops Luis Zarama and Archbishop Gregory Hartmayer serving as co-consecrators. Talley became the first native-born Georgian to serve as a bishop in the archdiocese.

Coadjutor Bishop and Bishop of Alexandria in Louisiana On September 21, 2016, Talley was appointed as coadjutor bishop of Alexandria in Louisiana by Pope Francis to assist Bishop Ronald Herzog. He was installed on November 7, 2016. When Herzog retired on February 2, 2017, Talley automatically succeeded him as bishop of Alexandria.

Bishop of Memphis On March 5, 2019, Francis appointed Talley as bishop of Memphis. He was installed on April 2, 2019. After his installation as bishop, Talley ordered a comprehensive review of prior sexual abuse allegations by the diocese and by an outside firm. In February 2020, the diocese released a list of 20 diocesan priests with credible accusations of sexual abuse of minors.

Talley has served as chair of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops Subcommittee on the Catholic Campaign for Human Development He has also been a member of the Committee on National Collections and the Committee on Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs.