Betty Teague Taylor passed away peacefully on Monday, December 17, at Moses Cone Hospital after a brief illness. A private graveside service will be followed by a celebration of her life on Thursday, December 20, at 11 a.m., at Saint Francis Episcopal Church in Greensboro, N.C.
Betty was born on November 11, 1928, in Sanford, NC, to the late Aubrey Watson Teague and Annie McIver Jones Teague. She was preceded in death by her husband of 48 years, Dr. Shahane Richardson Taylor, Jr, an infant son David McIver Taylor, a sister, Flora McIver Teague Wallace, and a brother, Norman Simpson Teague.
Betty attended Sanford High School, where she wrote for the school newspaper and was editor of the yearbook. She sang in the choir and played the bells at Buffalo Presbyterian Church, which had been founded by her ancestors in 1797. She considered herself fortunate to have grown up in a small town and she maintained her childhood friendships throughout her life.
Betty was a proud graduate of The Women's College of UNC (she never got used to saying "UNC-G), where she studied English Literature and was president of the Cornelian Society. While at “WC” that she met her future husband and the love of her life. They were married on August 2, 1952, in New York City at The Church of the Transfiguration (The Little Church Around the Corner.)
Betty and Shahane returned to live in Greensboro in 1963 after he received his medical degree form the UNC Chapel Hill School of Medicine. It was here that they raised three children and created a family that loved and adored her.
A creative free spirit, she was gifted in music, art and writing. As a teenager, she attended the NC state piano competition and performed music by her favorite composer, Rachmoninoff. She was a regular contributor to the former Irving Park Magazine and wrote an essay about her childhood that was published in Lee County Tales. Betty’s watercolors are treasured by her friends and family alike.
Betty Taylor’s life was the essence of kindness, compassion, unconditional love, and enthusiasm for life. Her great loves were her husband, Shahane, her children and her grandchildren. She loved her garden, her cats, her church and her friends. All those who knew her will always remember the smile in her eyes, that great Southern accent, and seeing her driving around in the black Mercedes wagon.
Betty was a devoted member of Saint Francis Episcopal Church, where she was a member of the Altar Guild. She was a member of The Debutante Club of Greensboro, Junior Dogwood Garden Club, Dogwood Garden Club, Wednesday Lecture Club, Greensboro Country Club, The Rams Club of UNC, and The Carolina Club in Chapel Hill.
She is survived by her children Shahane Richardson Taylor III and Mary Hooker Taylor of Greensboro; Anne Teague Taylor House and her husband Albert Clarence House III of Charlotte, NC; grandchildren, Shahane Richardson Taylor IV of Raleigh; William Edward Taylor of New York City; Katherine McMillan Taylor, of Greensboro; and daughter-in-law Deborah McMillan Taylor of Greensboro. She is also survived by five friends who were “family”: Catherine Banks, Candy Colglazier, Bridget Harding, Ray Moore, and Lesa Edwards, all of Greensboro. Each brought great joy and friendship to her life, and she loved each one of them dearly. The family would also like to offer a remembrance of the late Lelola Pace, who was a wonderful friend to four generations of the Taylor family.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Saint Francis Episcopal Church, 3506 Lawndale Dr., Greensboro, NC 27408; Animal Rescue Foundation,5836 Bur-Mill Club Road, Greensboro, NC 27410; or the Greensboro Urban Ministry, 305 West Lee Street, Greensboro, NC 2740
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