Beverly Marie Taylor

Beverly grew up on Freeport’s east side, attending St. Paul’s Baptist Church where her mother served as music director.

Gentle, outgoing, and possessing a kind and generous spirit, Beverly became Freeport High School’s first African-American cheerleader making many friends, securing what would become lifetime friendships. After graduating, her first job was as Registrar for the Boy Scouts of America.

She met her husband-to-be KC Jones through her eldest brother Carl Cain. KC and Carl began as NCAA rivals playing for the University of San Francisco and University of Iowa respectively. Their teams met often in the playoffs, fostering what would become a close friendship.

In August 1959, KC and Beverly married at St. Paul’s Baptist Church with the newlyweds settling in Boston for KC’s first job as a shooting/point-guard for the Boston Celtics. As a result of KC and Bill Russell’s close friendship since college, Beverly bonded with his wife Rose, forever connecting the Jones and Russell families.

In her later years, Beverly lived an exciting and independent life traveling extensively visiting Switzerland, France, Italy, Scotland, Ireland, Jordan, Egypt, South Korea, and Israel, eventually living in Jerusalem for one year. With that said, spending time with her children, relatives, and close friends made her the happiest.

Beverly’s deep faith in God inspired all who knew her with many drawn to her gentle ways. She never met a stranger and when asked, dispensed practical wisdom, peppered with humorous anecdotes and comical phrases.

Beloved wife, mother, sister, auntie, cherished friend, and devoted member of Mountain Christian Church (Harford County Maryland), she touched countless lives with her kindness, warmth, and unwavering love. Her gentle spirit and generous heart inspired all who knew her, leaving behind fond memories and a lasting legacy. She will be deeply missed, but her love remains with us always.

Beverly is survived by her five children; Leslie, K.C. III, Kelly, Bryna (Eddie), Holly; brothers Oather Taylor Jr., Herbie Taylor, sister Mary Burris; sisters-in-law Kattie Louise Jones, Catherine Cain, Frances Taylor, Geraldine “Geri” Taylor, Deborah Taylor and an abundance of nieces and nephews. Beverly is pre-deceased by her parents Oather Sr. and Ines Taylor; parents-in-law K.C. (Sr.) and Eula Mae Jones; former husband K.C. Jones Jr; brothers Carl Cain, Lemuel Russell Taylor, David Taylor; sisters Carolyn Maxine Edison, Catherine Banks; sisters-in-law Eula Mae Thomas, Patsy Jean Hampton, Rose Taylor; brothers-in-law Freeman Jones, Oliver J. Edison, and Roosevelt Banks.

Homegoing services will be held on Saturday, May 2, 2026 at 11:00 am CDT at Burke-Tubbs Funeral Home, 504 N. Walnut Ave., Freeport, IL 61032. The interment will be in Chapel Hills Memorial Gardens, Freeport, IL.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, May 9, 2026 from 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm at Mountain Christian Church, Walker Chapel 1802 Mountain Road, Joppa, MD 21085.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Gilchrist Center Baltimore or your favorite charity.https://gilchristcares.org/donate/