Martha Lee "Mot" Taylor

IN MEMORY OF

MARTHA LEE "MOT" TAYLOR

Born on March 19th, 1939, to Charley and Sarah Bradley in Emporia Virginia.

Mot, in all her roles in life was a daughter, a sister, wife and a loving mother. One of her earliest jobs as a teenager was in McCrory's Dime Store in Roanoke Rapids during hurricane Hazel in 1954. In 1957 she married an Army veteran, John D. Taylor, who served as a paratrooper in the 11th Airborne, Fort Campbell Kentucky. With the birth of two sons, W.D. and Lee. Mot became a mother and homemaker as she continued to work. Mot held jobs in cotton mills, factories, small family-owned restaurants and ran the lunch counter at a pharmacy in a small farming community. During most of her married life it was her husband who took center stage with a career which provided a secure and stable future to support the family. It was Mot though who held everything together. Registering the boys in school with each career move with John's employment. The shuffling of kids to doctor appointments that were beyond the bumps, bruises, skinned knees and cut fingers and all the social events related to everyday life.

In the little crossroads of a town where the pharmacy sat on the corner of main street it was now Mot who controlled all the clout within the family.

Known around town at all the businesses for her caring personality. For John to even cash a check at the local bank the clerk would first call Mot to verify it was her husband on the account attempting to withdraw funds. Mot, you see, was also the dispatcher at the local police department and ran the jail on her shift back when small town police departments operated their own holding cells before everything became a county responsibility. She dispatched many radio car calls to quail disturbances at the "Green Duck In" a favorite watering hole for farm hands who may have had a little too much celebration in mind after a long day in the fields tending to crops.

Mot continued to follow with many home relocations across the state that accompanied John's promotions within his career as a prison administrator. After her two boys made careers in both the military and local law enforcement they set up their own homes next to her knowing she would one day need their support in her elder years. Often, she'd proudly introduce her sons and grandsons to the ladies at her favorite restaurant and big box store. She was known to everyone simply as Ms. Mot.

A family favorite of hers was nightly suppers sitting around a large table enjoying the meal she had prepared as John and her two boys', W.D. and Lee with Lee's children Lee Jr., James and Lil John.

Stories would be told into the night around that table about all the day's events each had encountered in their life. Her favorite time was Christmas Eve with a tradition of opening family presents after a huge meal as more stories would flow celebrating a wonderful life that she enjoyed so much as the wife and mother in a family she so deeply cared for.

In her elder years Lee passed away unexpectedly, and Mot had to make a hard adjustment to knowing one of her caregivers she had prepared would no longer be there to look after her. The youngest grandson Lil John stayed in his dad's home next door and one day he would marry and have a family of his own. James, Lee's middle son, is also married and lives nearby with his family as well. Ms. Mot now had many more to assist in her care as the time grew nearer and nearer.

In Mot's later stages of life poor health came on suddenly as the need became more than the family alone could provide. That is when Gentiva Hospice stepped in and provided the loving care needed with medical, emotional and spiritual support to help keep her as comfortable as possible. W.D. with his girlfriend Andriette (Andy) and Lil John's wife Brandi were the major family caregivers with round-the-clock monitoring, meals and transportation. When Gentiva Hospice was called in to assist Ms. Mot had a whole new host of girls in the way of nurses, home aid, volunteer services and social outlook complete with spiritual overwatch.

Mot loved all her family and friends, especially her grandkids and great grandkids. James and Venessa have four boys, but Lil John and Brandi have four girls. Ms. Mot had never had the joy of being around little girls very much. All the boys John, WD and Lee plus Lee's three boys were a dominating presence. With granddaughters and now great granddaughters Ms. Mot so loved all the attention she deservingly received from having girls around the house.

During a moment of clarity in her weakened state I heard her make a sound almost as if speaking a whisper. She said, "I was married to my husband John D. Taylor who was as wonderful to me as a husband could be". The look on her face was something I should have recognized as significant now as I think back on her last days of life.

Ms. Mot's home aid had attended to her earlier in the day, bathing her and dressing her in fresh bed clothes. As she left mom gave her a kiss and thanked her for her care.

When mom's time came, the nurse provided for her medical needs with the utmost professional care. As she left that day, she prepared us by telling dad and myself that it would probably come very quickly now. Almost immediately several of the nurses who had attended to mom's needs, her volunteer coordinator and social worker all stopped by to offer their hugs and support which was greatly appreciated.

A relatively short time later that day Mom lay there in her bed as dad and I closely stayed by her side as we watched mom pass tenderly and in peace.

Mot passed away on September 26th, 2025, peacefully in her sleep within the comfort of her home having the loving care of Gentiva Hospice as her husband and eldest son watched over her.

Mot was preceded in death by her parents, stepfather Rudy Cooper, her brother Bill Bradley and her youngest son Lee Taylor. Mot was survived by her husband John of 68 years, son W.D. (Andy), grandsons Lee Jr, James (Venessa) Lil John (Brandi) and eight great grandchildren.

A graveside service will take place next to the family home in Hoffman, NC on the corner of Blues Bridge Road and Teal Street at the Blue Cemetery. Funeral services provided by Watson-King Funeral Home and will be officiated by Rev. Jim Ritter on Thursday October 2nd at 2 pm.

Online condolences can be made at www.watson-kingfuneralhome.com. Watson-King Funeral Home in Rockingham is assisting the Taylor Family.