Gladys Hunter Taylor

1931 - 2013

Taylor, Gladys Hunter

Gladys Roberta Hunter Taylor of Greenburgh departed this life on June 23, 2013 at her home, surrounded by her loving family.

She was born March 12, 1931 in Asheville, North Carolina to the late A.M.E. Zion Pastor, Robert Thomas Hunter and Gladys Hamblin Hunter. Gladys graduated from William Penn High School in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where she was a violinist in the school orchestra. She earned a bachelor of arts degree from Livingstone College in Salisbury, North Carolina, where she met her beloved husband, the late Sylvester TenEyke Taylor. Gladys also earned a masters degree in Public Administration from Pace University.

Gladys and Sylvester were married on February 27, 1954 in Montgomery, Alabama, and from this union were born three loving children: Sylvia Taylor Williams, Valerie Taylor Parker, and Robert Hunter Taylor. Sylvester predeceased her in 2008.

Gladys was a faithful, lifelong member of Institutional A.M.E. Zion Church of Yonkers, New York, where she was a former member of the Board of Trustees and chairperson of the Building Fund. She was also a member of the Women's Home and Overseas Missionary Society. Institutional was very dear to her heart.

After raising her children, Gladys was a social services supervisor for the County of Westchester. Prior to returning to work full-time, Gladys had worked over the years as an educator.

Gladys was a proud member and Golden Soror of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. She was a charter member of Pi Iota Omega Chapter of Greenburgh/White Plains. Among her many contributions to AKA, Soror Gladys served as Ivy Leaf Reporter, chair of the Scholes Committee for Children's Village, and as co-chair of many fundraisers. She loved her involvement with the sorority, and enjoyed spending time with her sorority sisters.

In her spare time, Gladys enjoyed reading, knitting, crossword puzzles, horticulture, nature, and traveling. Her best times were spent with her family.

Cherishing her life in addition to her daughters and son, are her sister, Minnetta Scott, sisters-in-law Emiko Castro and Susan Samuda and their husbands; sons-in-law Lance Williams and Luke Parker; and daughter-in-law Jill Huntley Taylor. She is also survived by her grandchildren, all of whom were her pride and joy: Laura McClure, Robert Holloway, Amore Parker, Sarah Holloway, Jonelle Parker, and Tate and Robeson Taylor; two cousins, a nephew and several great nephews. She was predeceased by a brother, William Hamblin Hunter.

Gladys's valiant battle with pancreatic cancer was an inspiration, and her strength and devotion to her family will be forever remembered and greatly missed.

A wake will be held at Institutional A.M.E. Zion Church, 42 Bishop William J. Walls Place, Yonkers, from 6:00 PM -9:00 PM on Friday. An Ivy Beyond the Wall Ceremony will begin at 7:00 PM. The funeral will be held at the church on Saturday at 11:00 AM. Interment will follow at the Kensico Cemetery in Valhalla.