Marguerite "Peggy" Taylor Paullin

Marguerite (Peggy) Taylor Paullin, age 101 of Atlanta, died peacefully at home of natural causes January 24th, 2023, surrounded by her family. Peggy is preceded in death by her husband, Dr. William (Brud) Lewis Paullin Jr., her parents, Edward Elkin and Josephine Byrne Taylor of Harwich, MA; and her sister and brother, Mary Taylor Smith, and John Joseph Taylor. She is survived by her three children, William Lewis Paullin III, Edward Taylor Paullin, James Edgar Paullin, daughter-in-law Susan Kelsey Paullin, her two grandchildren Lauren Paullin Godfrey and Elizabeth Taylor Paullin, and two great grandchildren Taylor Elizabeth Godfrey and Vivienne Marie Godfrey.

Peggy, born December 27, 1921, was a proud New Englander who came to the South, embraced the best of southern traditions of charm, graciousness, hospitality, and strength. She is fondly remembered for her generous and loving spirit that bridged multiple generations of family and friends. She enjoyed an active social life well into her eighties and cherished her role in preserving the family bond of anniversaries, holidays, and love until her passing.

A member of the Greatest Generation and celebrated veteran, Peggy; originally from the town of Harwich on Cape Cod, MA, attended Brooks Academy and then obtained her RN nursing degree from Lawrence Memorial Hospital in Medford, MA. In 1944, Peggy joined the Army Medical Corps, and as a Lieutenant, was assigned to the US 119th Army General Hospital in Blandford, England. The hospital, a decommissioned RAF training base, was one of five hospitals that were established in England to receive the 20,000 wounded troops from the D-Day invasion of Europe.

It was at the General Hospital in England that Peggy met the love of her life Captain William (Brud) L. Paullin, Jr. physician, from Ft. Gaines, GA. After a whirlwind romance, Peggy and Brud decided to marry in England in a small chapel among fellow military nurses and doctors who saluted them not with the traditional archway of crossed swords, but bedpans. Then as a married nurse, the Army allowed Peggy to return to the United States after VE Day instead of being transferred to the war in the Pacific. Peggy, being a New England Yankee and Brud, being a Southerner, felt it prudent to marry in England and spare each of their families the shock of a north/south union that only a World War could arrange. For more information of her experiences leading up to and during WWII, a link to Peggy’s veteran interview at the Atlanta History Center (1995) is available: Marguerite Taylor Paullin's interview for the Veterans History Project at Atlanta History Center - YouTube

In a special recognition ceremony for her service during WWII, Dr. Anthony Cooper of the Veterans Administration presented her with a plaque on her 100th birthday that officially designated and recorded December 27th as Lieutenant Marguerite Taylor Paullin Day for the Veterans Administration. This was a particularly special and gratifying event to the VA since they have so few WWII women veterans still living to celebrate.

Upon their return to the US after WWII and after spending a year in Boston, MA., Peggy and Brud moved to Atlanta, GA to start and raise a family and where Brud joined the internal medicine practice of his uncle, Dr. James E. Paullin in association with Piedmont Hospital. Peggy took continuing education classes at Agnes Scott College. In addition to being a homemaker, Peggy had a longstanding association in support of Piedmont Hospital, The Cathedral of Christ the King, Holy Spirit Catholic Church and had memberships in the Piedmont Driving Club, Capital City Club, University Yacht Club; and a Garden Club and an Investment Club where she showed such prowess as a stock picker that she was given the name the Wizard of Buckhead.

A Mass of The Resurrection will be held at Holy Spirit Catholic Church on Friday February 10th, 2023, at 1:00 PM. The reception will follow in McDonough Hall. Flowers are appreciated, and donations may be made to Holy Spirit Catholic Church.