Stephanie Taylor

Stephanie Taylor was born in Providence, Rhode Island on January 22, 1950 to the parents of Cortlandt and Alice Smith. Because Cortlandt was a Master Sargent in the U.S. Army (who happened to be stationed in Korea at the time of Stephanie’s birth), she went on to live in such various and interesting places as Texas, Washington State, Hawaii, and Alaska, where her only sister, Sandra Smith (who preceded her in death) was born.

Stephanie graduated from Lakes High School in Washington in 1968, then found her way back to Rhode Island to attend Rhode Island College, where she met and married her husband, Frederick Allen Taylor (who preceded her in death), in 1971. To this union three children were born.

Stephanie began working for Social Security in 1974, and relocated her family to California in September 1984, via a cross –country road trip, stopping to visit family members along the way in Pennsylvania and Texas. She continued to work for Social Security in California, retiring with 38 years of service.

Stephanie was known for her great taste, her love of books, and her love of shopping (Macy’s in particular). But her greatest enjoyment was spending time with her family. Stephanie leaves to cherish her memories: her daughter, Kitamu Hardie (Ronnie), and her sons, Ibn Bilal (Shanika), and Jamal Bilal (Keoni). She is also survived by three grandsons: Rasheed, Jalil and Omari, and a host of sister-in-laws, brother-in-laws, nieces, nephews, and friends.

Stephanie will be missed dearly by every life she touched.