Helen Evelyn (James) Taylor

Helen Evelyn James Taylor, 99, went home peacefully to be with the Lord, at Isabelle Ridgway Nursing Center, on Saturday, February 28, 2015. A native of Jacksonville, FL, she was born November 28, 1915, to Florida and Howard James. She was Stanton High School Salutatorian, class of 1933, and continued her education, earning a B.S. in Home Economics from Florida A M University. Near the end of WW II in 1945, she married the late Rev. Richard C. Taylor. They moved to Columbus, OH and joined Second Baptist Church, where Rev. Taylor served as associate pastor until his untimely death, and she served faithfully in the church nursery. When she became a charter member of The Good Shepherd Baptist Church, she continued her services with children in the Sunday School and Church Nurseries. She enjoyed 15 years as a caring teacher who shaped the early lives of many children enrolled in Paxey's Play School. Later, after receiving a second degree in elementary education, she was hired as one of the first pre-kindergarten teachers in Columbus City Schools. She used a holistic approach to educating her little charges: taught the parents how to prepare nutritious meals; showed them academic activities to do at home with their children; and instructed them on good manners. Teaching the parents as well as the children gave her so much joy. Her community service included Friends of the Martin Luther King Library; Charter member, the Helen Jenkins Davis Lunch Bunch; Semper Fidelis Guild; Sustaining member, Friends of Art for Community Enrichment (FACE); founding member, Gamma Rho Omega Graduate Chapter, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Jacksonville, FL. Her loving husband, Rev. Richard C. Taylor; beloved sister Louise J. Williams; and nephew Alfred Williams preceded her in death. Survived by loving and devoted daughter Flora (James R.) Henderson; grandson, James T. (Ardena) Henderson; great grandson Joshua Timothy Henderson (Randallstown, MD); special daughter-in-law Veronica (Clarence) Green; great niece, Holly Henderson; special cousins, Lydia Wooten, Reeda Harris, David (Betty) Dwight, Janice (Harry) Webster, and Joya Webster (Jacksonville, FL); niece, Ella Frances Agabadou, (Randallstown, MD); nephew, Ralph (Nadean) Williams (Philadelphia, PA); great nieces, Nadean (Brian) Morrell (Randallstown, MD), Krystol Olgetree (Jacksonville, FL), and Rochelle (William) Ford (Philadelphia, PA); great nephews, Ralph Williams, Jr., Blaine Williams, Alfred Williams, and Barry Williams (Philadelphia, PA); extended family, Monta Rocker, Vicky and Morris Jackson, Helen and Pat Arnold (Chicago), Suzanne Paxton, Catherine Willis, and Elnora Upshaw; and many special daughters and dear friends. She loved all of you.