Josephine Taylor Obituary

Josephine Helen Taylor

New York City—Josephine Helen Taylor, 91, of New York City died on Sept. 26, 2012, in that city. Born in Salisbury, she was the daughter of the late Everett Sidney Taylor and Louise Strong Taylor.

She graduated Salisbury State Teacher College in 1942, with a Bachelor of Science degree in elementary education, did graduate work in special education at the University of Maryland, and taught first and second grades for several years in Bishopville and elsewhere in the Salisbury area.

She was a lifelong member of the Methodist church, attending Asbury United Methodist Church in Salisbury and Rockawalkin United Methodist Church in Hebron, when she lived on the Eastern Shore. She also attended the People's Church in Long Beach, N.Y., and, as a certified Methodist lay speaker, occasionally led worship services in Nassau County, N.Y.

She was proud to live a long and productive life, despite heart damage from two episodes of rheumatic fever. She was particularly proud of her participation in a medical research study at Johns Hopkins Hospital in 1946, that tested penicillin as a treatment for endocarditis, a fatal disease at the time. She recalled being one of four patients treated with penicillin, all of whom survived the disease. At age 77, while undergoing major surgery at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City, she again contributed to a valuable research study when experimental surgical glue was used successfully in the reconstruction of her heart.

To the end of her life, Josie, as she was called, enjoyed reading, writing and learning new things. She loved beautiful gardens and spending time with her family and friends.

She is survived by three daughters, Earlene Williams of New York City, Joanna L. Williams of Medical Lake, Wash., and Lucinda J. Williams of New York City; two sisters, Marietta Hopkins of Salisbury and Cornelia Pruitt of Seaford; eight grandchildren, Mark Stundis of Dunellen, N.J., Lorraine Stundis of New York City, Jessie Spellmann Mignone of Mount Kisco, N.Y., Grace Spellmann of Denver, Colo,, William Spellmann of New York City, Robin Andrus of Delmar, Del., Anthony Hauck of Spokane, Wash., and Jordan Peele of Los Angeles; 10 great-grandchildren, six great-great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by her husband of 20 years, Earl Haworth Williams; her second husband, Harold Taylor Hallman; two sisters, Julia Jones and Annabelle Mongeon; and one grandchild, Telayie Noel Mariam.

An interment service will be held Saturday, Feb. 16, at 2 p.m. at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City, with the Rev. Kathleen Liles and Canon Thomas Miller officiating.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions in her memory be made to Johns Hopkins Children's Center (for the Congenital Heart Center), 100 North Charles St., Suite 200, Baltimore, Md. 21201.

Published by The Daily Times on Feb. 10, 2013.
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We will miss you, dear friend. For the past 75 years, since before high school, I have known and admired you. My wife, Aurelia, and I were so pleased to be with you and our classmates at the 1939 sixtieth reunion of the Wicomico High Class of 1939.

Lee Smith

February 11, 2013

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