Mildred Taylor

TAYLOR, Mildred Mitchell, 94, of Richmond, died on May 17, 2010. Mrs. Taylor was preceded in death by her husband of 54 years, George Thomas Taylor. She was the only child born to Alice and John Mitchell on September 15, 1915. Mrs. Taylor attended Westhampton College and graduated from The College of William & Mary in 1937. Mrs. Taylor lived most of her life in Richmond, except for a short period of time during WWII when she and her husband lived in Philadelphia and Princeton, N.J. After returning to the Richmond area, Mrs. Taylor taught elementary school until the birth of her first child.

She is survived by two children, a daughter, Carolyn Taylor Leininger and son-in-law, Michael, of Midlothian; and a son, G. Thomas Taylor Jr. and daughter-in-law, Katherine, of Orono, Maine. Mrs. Taylor is survived by three grandchildren, Travis Kendall Taylor and his wife, Hyunsun, of Seaford, Va., Amy Paige Taylor of Richmond, and Sarah Valerie Taylor of Arlington, Va. Mrs. Taylor was blessed to have three step grandchildren, Patrick Jordan Leininger, Amanda Berkley Leininger and William Lowndes Peple IV, all of Richmond. Mrs. Taylor also leaves behind a nephew, Stuart A. Napier Jr. and his wife, Jeanne, of Manakin-Sabot, and two nieces, Susan N. Grady of Chesterfield and Carol N. Waller of Mount Sterling, Ky., in addition to many great-nieces and nephews.

Mrs. Taylor was a charter member of St. Giles Presbyterian Church, a charter member of Willow Oaks Country Club and a member of the Tuckahoe Women's Club. For the past three years, she was a resident at Meadow Glen of Richmond, an assisted living facility, where she felt very much at home and loved by staff and fellow residents. Her sweet nature and her desire to remain independent made her a joy to be around and an inspiration to her entire family. She will always be remembered for her graciousness, her strength of character and willingness to accept whatever life placed in front of her. The family also wishes to thank the staff at The Laurels of Bon Air for their compassionate care.

Her remains rest at the Huguenot Chapel of Woody Funeral Home, 1020 Huguenot Road, where the family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday. Graveside services will be held 2 p.m. Friday, May 21, 2010 at Westhampton Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to either St. Giles Presbyterian Church or a charity of your choice.