Mrs. J. Elizabeth Whaley Taylor left this earth to be with our Heavenly Father on Sunday, June 25, 2006. At the time of her passing, she was residing in the home of John and Jessica Hicks, Mrs. Taylor's granddaughter, in Tifton. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, June 28, 2006 in the Chapel of Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals. Rev. James D. Robinson will officiate with burial to follow in Oak Ridge Cemetery. Pallbearers will be J. Perry Taylor, Jamie Taylor, Kenneth Willis, Edward Willis, John Hicks and Drew Tyson. Members of the Tift Regional Medical Center Auxiliary will serve as honorary pallbearers.
Mrs. Taylor was born on August 29, 1920 in Tift County and was the daughter of Jess A. and Nellie Idell Smith Whaley. She attended Tift County schools and, in 1938, she married the love of her life, John L. Taylor of Brookfield. In 1944, Elizabeth and John, along with their two children, moved to Auburndale, Florida, where John developed his career as Public Works Superintendent for the City of Auburndale and Elizabeth pursued her career as a dietitian in both the Winter Haven and Lakeland General Hospitals. Their children grew to adulthood in Auburndale with the strong guidance of their parents. During this time, they were members of the Lena Vista United Methodist Church and the First United Methodist Church of Auburndale. John and Elizabeth retired in 1980 and enjoyed the company of so many dear friends and relatives and, in March of 1986, Elizabeth lost her dearest friend and constant companion, John.
After losing John, Elizabeth moved back to Tifton, where she became a member of the First United Methodist Church, the Tifton Women's Club, the Library Club and the Tift Regional Medical Center Auxiliary. She served as President-Elect and President of the Auxiliary. She also volunteered and worked with the Special Olympics. In addition to her volunteer work, Elizabeth enjoyed working in her yard. Her yards were an abundance of colors from early Spring until the first frost. She planted a vegetable garden each season of the year and always shared the bounty of her garden with family, friends and neighbors.
Mrs. Taylor immensely enjoyed watching her great granddaughters, Danielle Marie Hicks, now of New York City, New York, and Johnna Renee' Hicks, now of Valdosta, grow and mature. She taught them all of her values. Then, in June of 1997, the apple of her eye, her great grandson, John Boyd Hicks, IV, was born in Tifton. She doted on him for the next eight years until she became ill. He then doted on her.
Mrs. Taylor was preceded in death by her parents; her brother, Jimmy L. Whaley of Astor Park, Florida; her sister, LaDufsie Beama Whaley Neylans of Keystone Heights, Florida; her husband, John L. Taylor; and her great grandson, Joseph Louis Thompson of Tifton.
Mrs. Taylor is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Bobby J. and Johnnie B. "Betty" Taylor Futch of Salt Springs, Florida; her son and daughter-in-law, James L. and Soon Woodall Taylor of Huntsville, Alabama; her sister and brother-in-law, Stanley S. and Virginia N. Whaley Schoenbaum of San Antonio, Texas; eight grandchildren, John W. Thompson of Trenton, Florida, Jessica Elizabeth Thompson Hicks of Tifton, Donna Woodall Pendergreass of Madison, Alabama, Sandra Woodall Thies of Huntsville, Alabama, Elizabeth Woodall Muccio of Destin, Florida, Traci L. Futch Howard of Salt Springs, Florida, Walter K. "Buddy" Futch of Salt Springs, Florida, and R. Marc Futch of Deltona Florida; eleven great grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, donations should be made to Hospice of Tiftarea, P. O. Box 747, Tifton, GA 31793.