Marilyn E. Taylor 91, of Whaleyville, went home to be with the Lord on Dec. 20, 2016. She was a loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She was born in Nansemond County, Whaleyville, on Sept. 3, 1925, to the late William Clinton Eure and Rosalie Carter Eure. She was predeceased by her husband of 62 years, Wilbur J. “Junior” Taylor Jr.; brothers, Werdna W. Eure, William Lee Eure; sisters, Mabel E. Robertson, Margaret E. Pittman and Myrtle E. Eason.

Left to cherish her memories are daughter, Joyce Taylor Brinkley; son and daughter-in-law, Allen Jackson Taylor (Glenda); granddaughters, Karen B. McCullough (Chris), P. Gail Taylor, all of Suffolk, and Melissa L. Taylor, of Virginia Beach; great-granddaughter, Carlie D. McCullough; sister, Pat Eure Jackson, Charlotte, N.C.; sister-in-law, Kitty P. Eure; and many nieces, nephews and friends.

Marilyn was a graduate of Whaleyville High School. She worked at E.A. Brothers General Merchandise Store in Whaleyville, Planters Nut and Chocolate Co. in Suffolk, drove the school bus, and managed the cafeteria at Whaleyville High School. She retired as a secretary from Butler Paper Co. after 30 years of service, and also retired as secretary of Great Fork Baptist Church. She attended Great Fork Baptist Church from birth and was a member for 77 years, as well as a member of Sunbeams, GA’s, YWA’s, BTU and WMU, served as chairman of and served on numerous committees, member of Ruth Bible Class, charter member/director of the Keenagers, and History Chairman. Her longtime dream was fulfilled in 2011-2012 when she was given the honor of collecting and copying all records of the church, that were stored with the Virginia Historical Society, at the University of Richmond. She placed them in the church safe and made a library for anyone that wants to research them. In honor of this, she was given a Resolution of Appreciation and was made chairman of the History Committee in 2014. She loved to work in her flowers and vegetable garden, canning, freezing, preserving, cooking, sewing and handwork, which she shared with family and friends.

A celebration of life service will be held at Great Fork Baptist Church, 180 Great Fork Road, Suffolk, VA 23438 at 11 a.m. Friday, Dec. 23, 2016. Following the service, the family will gather in the church fellowship hall for a time of visitation. Burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Great Fork Baptist Church Building Fund C/O Wayne Bleiler, treasurer, 140 Robin Lane, Suffolk, VA 23434, or a charity of your choice. The family is being assisted by R.W. Baker & Co Funeral Home, 509 W. Washington St., Suffolk. Condolences may be offered at RWBakerFH.com.