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Funeral services for Mother Louella Milligan Taylor took place on March 26, 2022, in Union City, Tennessee. She was buried at East View Cemetery in Union City.
Mrs. Louella Milligan Taylor, formerly of South Bend, Indiana, passed away in Union City, Tennessee on Thursday, March 17, 2022. She was 84 years old. Mrs. Taylor was born on November 21, 1937, to the union of Wayne and Birdie Morris.
Mrs. Taylor was a resident of South Bend for over 40 years. She worked and retired from St. Joseph Hospital and also Home Instead and was a former member of the former Emmanuel Church of Deliverance, St. Paul Gospel Mission and also Bethlehem Baptist Church.
Mrs. Taylor’s spiritual walk began at Emmanuel Church under the leadership of the late Pastor Willie O. Coats, Sr. She continued her walk at Saint Paul Gospel Mission under the leadership of the late Pastor Silous L. Anderson. While at Saint Paul Gospel Mission she actively served in outreach ministries feeding those in need her famous cornbread patties, delicious chicken and dressing, awesome greens and southern peach cobbler all prepared from scratch with a dash of love and a huge measure of faith. She was a self-made seamstress who could make lovely garments from almost any type of fabric. She was a Proverbial woman who spoke the word both in and out of season. She directed the Sunshine Band, taught Sunday School and YPWW Missions.
Mother Taylor’s faith passage soon led her to Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church under the leadership of Pastor Keith D. Witherspoon where she was a well-respected and loved Mother of the Church. She served as the president of the Mothers’ Board and served on many other committees. She later relocated to Tennessee to reside with her daughter where she remained until she took her eternal rest.
Our parents give us life. Our grandparents give us a sense of who we are and where we come from. They are a wonderful combination of warmth and kindness, laughter and love. My grandmother was the type of person that would move heaven and earth for us.
On March 26, 2022, as we said our final goodbyes, it hit me how incredibly blessed I have been to have had my amazing grandmother with me for 32 years. Not only with me, but an integral, close part of me. She was not only my granny, but she was like a second mom to me -- my best friend. When I was bored, I found myself calling her. When I just wanted to hear her voice, I would call her. I could always count on her being there.
The love of a grandmother is so unique. They help liven up our lives, making us more complete, well rounded and better human beings. She played a huge part in my early childhood. Every summer I spent my days with her. I can remember our Saturdays being yard sale day. We’d get the newspaper, circle all the places we wanted to stop, pack a lunch, because we knew we were going to be gone pretty much all day, and get going. During the week, The Price is Right was our show. Sitting in front of her while she put pigtails in my hair hearing her scream out what she though was the right price. You never know how much those memories really mean to you until days like this come.
At her previous church I can remember her always being the first one to arrive and always one of the last to leave. She was one of the best cooks and everyone loved her hot water corn bread. Everyone loved her so much that even my friends started calling her granny. She was always a present part of our everyday lives. That constant loving presence really helps shape a person. She loved deep and that love exuded from her and was felt toward everyone around her.
Being absent from the body means being present with the Lord. Her spirit lives on in each of us and the lives that she touched. Her love, strength, conviction, wisdom, and the beauty of her soul will remain with me forever.
Those left to cherish her loving memory are, three daughters Renee Milligan of Union City, Nadine Brown of Las Vegas, Nevada, and Fannie Ardelia Hill of Cleveland, Ohio; four sons Robert (Cynthia) Janes of Halls, Tennessee, Dwight Milligan of South Bend, Terry (Joy) Milligan of Tyler, Texas, and Michael Milligan of Martin, Tennessee; 16 grandchildren; 29 great grandchildren; two sisters, Loretta Tate of Jackson, Tennessee and Mary Bond of Union City; loving spiritual children, Nichole Witherspoon, Jacqueline Anderson, Karen Walker, Betty Buckley, Jackie Coleman, Cheryl Anderson, and Luvenure Barnhill; spiritual granddaughters, Ambrea Pruitt and Rashawnda O’Neal; spiritual sons, Jerry Gathright and Archie Fulce; spiritual sisters, Sederia Griffin and Viola Taylor, along with a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
Mother Taylor was preceded in death by her parents Birdie and Wayne (Dorena, Missouri); her husband, Richard Taylor (South Bend); and three brothers, Marvin Morris (South Bend), Joe Louis Morris and Jackie Morris Robinson (Union City).
“Granny, you have impacted my life in so many ways. I will always love you and I will always save a special place in my heart to keep you with me and I know we will miss you every day of our lives.”
The story of the life of Mother Taylor was written by her granddaughter, Jalissa Peterson.
I will bless the Lord at all times and
his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
Psalm 34:1
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