Carol J. Taylor

Carol Taylor was an extraordinary woman who made the journey to her eternal home, May 21st after a long, hard battle with breast cancer. She was born in Kennett, MO on May 2, 1963 to Surula and Wesley Johnson. Carol attended Northside Baptist Church where she professed a hope in Christ and was baptized at an early age. In 1981, she graduated from Kennett High School in Kennett, MO and went on to further her education at the University of Missouri at Columbia.

After a few years in college, Carol decided to forgo her education and returned home to Kennett. On January 7, 1984, she married her high school sweetheart, Jackie Taylor and they were soon relocated to San Diego, CA due to Jackie’s position in the military. Shortly after, the two were blessed with children; Mario Anthony Taylor in October of 1984 and Amber Lynette Taylor in August of 1986. In the beginning, Carol and Jackie’s life together was an adventure. Learning the ends and outs of marriage; raising two small children and moving from state to state brought its fair share of challenges. While Jackie was out to sea, Carol was charged with the task of taking care of not only the children, but the household as well. Being both mommy and daddy to two children was by no means easy. Her husband supported and provided for her in every way he could and through it all they remained strong together with the help of their faith in God.

At work and in life, Carol never backed down from any obstacle. She began a career in customer service and although she did not attain her degree, her fierce work ethic allowed her to quickly move up in rank to eventually secure a position as Director of Human Resources for an insurance company. Being successful on the job was not only reflected by the titles she held, it was also evident in the relationships she made. From job to job, state to state, she left a lasting impression on all those with whom she worked. Her presence and charisma made her an essential asset to every company she worked for.

If Carol were here to speak for herself, I’m sure she would agree her greatest accomplishment was raising two intelligent, God-fearing children. She was a very “hands on” parent; always involved in whatever activities her children took part in to ensure they knew their mother supported them and was proud of their success. From PTA meetings to late night band trips, Carol made sacrifices to be there every step of the way. Her nurturing, caring nature was undeniable and she quickly became one of the “cool moms” amongst her children’s peers. Carol was lovingly referred to as “Mama Taylor” by their friends even after they had long graduated.

After graduating from Escambia High School in Pensacola, FL, her son, Mario, attended Pensacola Junior College where he received his A.A. in Business. He then attended Blue Cliff Career College where he received his certification in Massage Therapy. He married the daughter of a close family friend, Phebe Woods, in August of 2010 and gave Carol her first grandson and daughter; Garrison Marc Taylor in 2011 and Gianna Ezri-Marie Taylor in 2012. Being a “GiGi” was hands down the highlight of her life. Her unconditional and irreplaceable love for her grandchildren could be felt even through their Skype sessions from Florida reaching them all the way to Maryland.

Her daughter, Amber, also graduated from Escambia High School and became a fighting Knight at the University of Central Florida thereafter. She graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Communications and seemed to follow in her mother’s footsteps by earning a position in Human Resources where she flourished. God led Amber to move back home and placed her in a position that allowed for her to be an essential part of Carol’s treatment and recovery.

In 2007, Carol was first diagnosed with breast cancer. Thankfully she found out early and was able to begin aggressive treatments to send the cancer into remission. Life eventually went back to normal in 2009 and she regained her strength as a cancer survivor. Unfortunately, in 2011 she was re-diagnosed with breast cancer that had metastasized to other areas of her body. Even in the face of this unsettling news, Carol never once doubted the power of God and her belief in His abilities to work a miracle. For the next three years, she traveled back and forth with her husband, daughter and various family members to the Cancer Treatment Centers of America located in Tulsa, OK and Newnan, GA for chemotherapy treatments and visits to check her progress. Even at her worst, Carol made an effort to see the positive of every day. She encouraged others in similar situations to believe that God can do anything. Her faith never faltered.

In May of 2014, Carol was called home to join her heavenly Father. She knew that even if she wasn’t meant to live forever on this Earth, a place was prepared for her with Him. During her final hours, even without the ability to speak, Carol praised and thanked God in spite of her circumstances. Surrounded by her husband, children, grandchildren and extended family she worshiped the Lord with all that was left within her. Carol could see and feel just how much she was loved and the love she had for those around her was obvious. She was a devoted wife of 30 years, an amazing friend and an exceptional mother. Carol positively affected the lives of everyone she came into contact with. Her LEGACY will forever live on. Although she did not win her battle with cancer, she won the ultimate victory over her soul.

- See you in the morning