Mildred Swinson Taylor, 85, passed away on Wednesday, March 23, 2022 at her home.

Funeral Service:

Monday, March 28, 2022

7:00 PM

Followed by visitation

Community Funeral Home, Beulaville, NC

Graveside Service:

Tuesday, March 29, 2022

11:00 AM

Onslow Memorial Park, Jacksonville, NC

Survivors:

Spouse:

Isaac Willoughby Taylor of Richlands, NC

Sons:

Randall Taylor (Gail) of LaGrange, NC

Thomas Taylor (Jevlyn) of Richlands, NC

Daughter:

Sharon Taylor of Richlands, NC

8 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren

Sister:

Linda Banks (Marvin) of Kinston, NC

Brother:

Francis Swinson (Lois) of Pleasant Hill, NC

Sister-in-law:

Miriam Bailey (Grady) of Montezuma, NC

Community Funeral Home of Beulaville is honored to serve the Taylor Family.

Mildred Swinson Taylor was born on June 9, 1936 in Jones County to France Swinson and Estelle King Swinson.  She is survived by her husband Willoughby Taylor of their home and their three children – Randall Taylor (Gail) of LaGrange, NC; Thomas Taylor (Jevlyn) of Richlands, NC; and Sharon Taylor of Richlands, NC.

She leaves behind eight grandchildren: Jessie West Herring of LaGrange, NC; Dana Bryan Mortenson (Chris) of Oahu, Hawaii; Erica Weston of Richlands, Randi Stroud (Zack) Pikeville, NC; Tanner Taylor of Kinston, NC; and Hunter Weston, Hailey Taylor and Jackson Taylor, all of Richlands. She has four great grandchildren: Chase and Jonah Herring of La Grange; Seth Leeson of Richlands; and Avery Mortenson of Oahu, Hawaii.

Her daughter Sharon writes:

Mama was a Christian woman who lived her faith every day and raised her family on this foundation.  She was a member of Whaley's Chapel Church, where she taught Sunday school for many years and was a member of the Ladies Auxiliary.

She read her Bible daily, and studied the Word so she could teach others.

Mama was our rock.  She kept us grounded. She talked to us and sometimes lectured her children when we needed it.  We didn't have to get in the car to go to church – she took us to church throughout the week, right at home.

She was a loving wife and mother. She enjoyed cooking, and made delicious fried chicken and collards among many other dishes. She made sure we had three meals a day, every day, because she loved us and was dedicated to raising a happy, healthy family.

Mama loved to work alongside Daddy in the garden, and the tobacco fields.

She was a devoted wife who truly loved her husband. She took great pride in our Daddy. She let us know every day that he was a hard-working man.  She loved him beyond words and actions.  Times got tough some years, with the crops, but Mama was always there right by his side in good times and bad.  She was the glue that kept our family together.

She encouraged Daddy and all of us every day.

Mama loved her grandchildren, and loved to rock them and hum them to sleep.  We never recognized the tune, but it always worked.  She would not only put the children to sleep, but anyone else sitting around in the den would fall asleep also.

Mama ran a tight ship on curfew and was always awake when her children came home. Even if she was in bed she would say something to us to let us know we hadn't gotten away with anything. She'd ask, "Did you have a good time?"

She was always waiting, watching every move we made.  And on several occasions she would lecture us with the famous beginning of, "I'll tell you one thing..."

Some of us children heard those words more than others.

Mama tended to her family, to her faith, and to her garden.  She loved to work in her flower beds, pulling weeds and continually adding more flowers.  She would mention something she wanted to do with the flowers and the next thing we we'd know, Daddy would be gathering the tools and heading to the yard to work right alongside her.

She often had a camera in her hand, clicking pictures of flowers and mountains, and her family.  It seems like she has about 10,000 photos, but I'm sure it's actually many more.

Mama's illness changed her from the mama we knew. She still talked to us and we could still make her smile.  But dementia is a terrible disease, and we witnessed it firsthand through Mama's sickness.

But even dementia couldn't defeat Mildred Swinson Taylor.

Just two weeks before she passed away, Mama told me she was ready to go to her heavenly home.  And when she left, she left us with a smile on her face, and we knew she was happy.  We knew she had gone home to be with her Lord and Savior.

We know we will miss her, but we also know – as she did, and as she taught us – that we will see her again one day.  Until then, we will build on the foundation of faith and love she created for us here on earth.