Ernestine Jenkins Taylor

She was active in numerous civic, athletic and social organizations, including The National Society of The Colonial Dames, the Alabama Cattleman’s Association and the Montgomery Academy POA. She was a member of the Altar Guild of the Episcopal Church of the Ascension for 30 years, volunteered for a decade at the Children’s Center of Montgomery, served as a Pink Lady for many years at Saint Margaret’s Hospital and established the annual Letohatchee Tree Lighting Celebration now enjoyed by residents across the county.

In addition to her duties as a wife, mother, grandmother and community activist, Ernestine was a talented gardener and cook, a ranked tennis player, runner, golfer and aerobics instructor. She raised Black Angus cattle most of her life and was a past president of the Lowndes County Cattlemen’s Association. In 1998, Ernestine became the only female Republican to ever run for office in Lowndes County.

A memorial service will be conducted at 11 a.m. Tuesday December 30, at the Episcopal Church of the Ascension by the Rev. Andrew Thayer. Burial will follow in the Letohatchee Cemetery. The family will receive friends in the Parish House Library one hour prior to the service.

She was preceded in death by her mother, noted author Florence Jenkins and her father, George Lewis Jenkins and by her daughter, Lucinda Bolling Taylor.

Mrs. Taylor is survived by her loving husband of 65 years: Watson Robbins Taylor; two sons: Watson Robbins Taylor Jr., of Rosemary Beach, Florida and George Lewis “Pete” Taylor and his wife, Caroline, of Montgomery; one daughter: Jane Taylor Albright, also of Montgomery; and eight grandchildren: Watson Robbins Taylor III, Davis Denson Taylor and Caroline Davis Taylor; George Lewis “Pete” Taylor Jr., Helen Wallace Taylor and Walter Turner Taylor; and Phillip Allen Sellers II and Dr. Thomas Rutherford Sellers.

Grandchildren will serve as pallbearers.

Honorary pallbearers are: Herbert Mims, Dr. Woodie Lamar, Bobby Nichols, Bowen Hill, Jim Inscoe, Bobby Gates and Dr. Tommy Williams.

The family would like to thank special caregivers, Dot Derrico and Rose Coleman and acknowledge the faithful service of extended family member Bobby Kendrick.

Ernestine never met a stranger and will be especially missed by the community she so freely supported and enhanced.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the charity of one’s choice.