Ann Taylor Daniels

Anna Jean Taylor, also known as Ann, Ma, Grann, Aunt Annie, and later, Mrs. Daniels, graced the world with her presence on October 17, 1940 in Coahoma County MS. Her parents were William Taylor and Lula Bonds Taylor, and their union resulted in eight children, of which Ann was the youngest: Clarence Precious Bostic, George Robert Taylor, Abbey Green, Steward Taylor, Johnny Taylor, Omni Marks, Bertha Smith and Ann Taylor Daniels.

Ann attended Florida Street Elementary, of Memphis Tn. In 1949, the Taylor family moved to Brooklyn, NY, where she attended Junior High School 178 (1954) and graduated from Franklin K. Lane High School in 1958. Most importantly, Franklin K. Lane High School was where Ann met the love of her life, Judge Ben Daniels Jr of Newark New Jersey. There they wedded in holy matrimony on June 25, 1962. They were blessed with birth of two sons, Reginald Daniels and Craig Daniels. She went on to earn credits at Medgar Evans College, Brooklyn NY part-time, with a focus/concentration in English.

Ann was a consummate professional while working as a Keypunch Operator for the New York Telephone Company in late the 1950s, and as a member of the Clerical Staff of Brooklyn NY’s 73rd Precinct in the 1970s. One of Ann’s crowning achievements, was serving as the Personal Assistant to Arthur Ashe later in the 1980s. She would often speak fondly of her time assisting Mr. Ashe, who was the first African American male to win the Tennis World’s most prestigious Tennis tournament, Wimbledon. Additionally, Ann was awarded a Mayoral Citation, or more specifically, the 2007 Mayor’s Community Relations Committee’s Good Neighbor Award, from Mayor Philip Amicone for 5 years of supporting Yonkers’ nursing homes.

Her love of fashion was unbridled, having amassed an extensive and unique wardrobe over the years. The apparel of Abraham and Strauss, Lord and Taylor and Macy’s have graced her wardrobe. A true “Thrifter” (i.e. love of thrift store shopping), Ann also acquired an expansive amount of hidden treasures during her jaunts to the multitude of Thrift Stores throughout NYC and Westchester County, NY.

Although she did not regularly attend a specific religious institution, she was an ardent student of “God’s word”. Often referring to herself as a “Child of God”, she would also frequently preface, or conclude, her sentences with “God” or “the Lord”, sometimes to the ire of her family. She was a member of “The Foundation” and frequently mentioned Enoch, which was one of her spiritual advisors within the Foundation. Her Guardian/Companion Angel would often speak and provide guidance to Ann. In fact, unsurprisingly, she selected the name of her Angel, Sharannel, as her MacBook Air password. Also, as a student of God’s ardent word, she freely imparted volumes of wisdom to her over 27 nieces and nephews, whether solicited, or not, given her unfettered love of family. She often imparted that wisdom while braiding, corn-rolling or straightening hair with a hot comb. Her nieces and nephews can attest to their long introspective conversations about life, love and their faith over wine, a long phone call, or over a tall glass of vodka. Never one to shy away from a cocktail, Ann was known for her love of vodka neat (i.e. straight, no ice). In fact, she often carried her vodka stash in a camouflaged thermos from Cabela’s, which she proudly masqueraded as Spring Water, unbeknownst to one of her daughter-in-laws for over 30 years.

A life-long learner and competitor, Ann loved playing games such as Solitaire, Bid Whist, Bridge, Scrabble, Boggle, Taboo or Scattegories. In fact, she was her own Jeopardy Champion. The grandchildren knew, don’t call Grann right before Jeopardy, because she would interrupt you mid-sentence, and state, “Gotta go, Jeopardy is on”, and then there would be the preverbal, “click”.

Ann was a talented and creative seamstress, not to mention having mastered the subtleties of both the Singer and Bernina sewing machines. She had routinely made her own 1-of-a kind garments, including dashiki’s, dresses, and all manner of clothing which were the envy of her Brooklyn enclave through the years. She also dabbled as a knitter of wool and yarn and had also crocheted beautiful baby garments and hats for her and her family. Ann absolutely loved to travel. Whether it was a day trip from Yonkers to the Big Apple (NYC) to shop and dine after a long subway ride, or whether it was a globetrotting trip over the Atlantic, having traveled to Malaga, Spain and Morocco, Africa, or over the Pacific to Hawaii with her spouse and grandchildren. That said, her true love was the Caribbean Islands, where she racked up frequent flyer miles, having traveled to Bermuda, Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, St. Thomas, Aruba, Martinique and Guadeloupe.

Ann was a lover of music, having become a regular attendee of Chicago’s Annual Blues Festival, not to mention listening, singing and dancing to the tunes performed by the Greats, such as James Brown, Marvin Gaye, Otis Redding, Stevie Wonder, Al Green, and Mahalia Jackson. A true “Do it Yourself-er”, lover of arts and crafts and decorative projects, her home has been adorned with her creations over the years, from pottery works, to paintings and relief wood carvings. And finally, Ann embraced technology, as evidenced by her proud use and early adoption, at the time, of the celebrated Word Processor appliance, the Microsoft Personal Computer, and her familiarity, comfort and use of the old Microsoft Operating System, DOS.

It is often stated that Ann forgives, but never forgets, so though she is gone, she too will never be forgotten. She leaves to mourn her passing and cherish her memories, her spouse of 63 years, Judge Ben Daniels Jr.; two loving sons, Reginald Daniels (Debra Daniels), and Craig Daniels (Nicole Dixon-Daniels); five grandchildren, Ericka Brown (Tim Brown), Justin Daniels (Miranda Daniels), Alanah Daniels, Drew Daniels, and Sydney Daniels; four great-grandchildren, Xavier Brown, Isaiah Brown, Josiah Brown, and Maiya Brown, one sister Bertha Taylor Smith of Brooklyn, NY and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. Please join us in celebrating Ann’s 79 years in your heart, mind and continued prayers. She will be truly be missed, but we’ll see her with the father at another time and place.