E. Norris M. Taylor

"I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day." 2 Timothy 4:7-8 KJV. On Easter Sunday, April 4, 2010, E. Norris McClellan Taylor, Ed.D., was called to her heavenly home. On June 2, 1939, E. Norris joined the bustling family of Robert Lee and Louise Carr McClellan of Haynesville. The youngest of six children, she spent her childhood years in Minden. She was educated in the public school system of Webster Parish, where she graduated from Webster High School in 1957. After matriculating at Lincoln University in Jefferson City, Mo., she received a bachelor of science degree in music. She began her career as an educator in Kansas, before moving to Pasadena, Calif., the adopted hometown of her family. She later moved to Carson, Calif., where she resided for 45 years. She continued to pursue her studies, earning a master's degree in library science administration at the University of Southern California. She also worked as a librarian at USC. The consummate academic, she later completed doctoral studies at USC. She taught in the Los Angeles Unified School District for several years, before moving to the Compton Unified School District where she taught for several years. She served as a district administrator for more than 30 years. During her career, she developed the library science curriculum, the present standard for school librarians. Before her retirement in 2001, she returned to the Los Angeles Unified School District as a librarian. She devoted her life to children and desired that all receive the highest quality of education. In furtherance of this ideal, she established several schools: The Hollywood of Compton Preschool, Dominguez Hills Day School and Afterschool Club and The Oakcrest Academy. She owned these schools for more than 30 years. In 1966, she married Henderson Taylor, of Brownsville, Tenn., and to that union one son was born, Jonathan Paul McClellan Taylor, M.D. She was very active in multiple philanthropic and social endeavors. She devoted much of her time working in the Blue Ribbon Guild. Always attempting to motivate children, she developed the Library Scholars program to teach children critical research skills in library science. She also belonged to Alpha Kappa Alpha, Phi Delta Kappa, the National Education Association, the National Library of Science Association, the Lions, the city of Carson Chamber of Commerce and numerous other business, educational and professional organizations. She was baptized at Mount Zion A.M.E. Church in Minden as a child, where she began her Christian journey. After relocating to California, she attended First A.M.E. Church in Los Angeles, and later Judson Baptist Church in Carson. After relocating to Louisiana to be with her children and grandchildren, she faithfully attended Tasker A.M.E. Zion Church in Ponchatoula. She leaves to cherish her memory her only son, Dr. Jonathan Paul McClellan Taylor; daughter-in-law, Dr. Yolunda Johnson Taylor; three grandchildren, Caroline Florinne Johnson Taylor, Camille Ellaina Johnson Taylor and Cecile Sophia Johnson Taylor; a sister, Dr. Ardra Grubbs; two brothers, Robert Lee McClellan Jr. and wife Mary, and James Charles McClellan; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents and two sisters, Betty McClellan and Barbara Carr Schoen. Services will be held Thursday, April 8, at Rabenhorst Funeral Home, 825 Government St., with viewing from 4 p.m. until a memorial service following at 6 p.m. Funeral services will be held Saturday, April 10, at Scott United Methodist Church in Pasadena. She will be laid to rest at Mountain View Cemetery in Pasadena.