Mrs. Edith Taylor Chou

Edith Taylor Chou, 94, of Greenville, SC, passed away peacefully at home on February 10, 2025, surrounded by her family. Born on January 24, 1931, in Spartanburg, SC, she grew up on a farm in Franklin, NC, where she developed the resilience and work ethic that would define her life.

As a young adult, Edith lived at the YWCA, where she worked for Judge Eppes in family court and saw firsthand the challenges facing families in crisis. This experience sparked her lifelong passion for championing the underprivileged. She also discovered two great loves at the Y- travel and ballroom dancing - both of which brought her joy throughout her life.

A proud Furman University graduate, Edith spent nearly 40 years shaping young minds as a third-grade teacher at Dunean and Greenview Elementary Schools. She believed education was a path to opportunity and worked tirelessly to ensure that every child, regardless of background, had the chance to succeed.

Her commitment to civic engagement extended beyond the classroom. She was a long-serving state delegate for the Democratic Party, and also participated as a delegate at the National Convention. She began working the voting polls on November 7, 1978, and remained dedicated to ensuring every voice was heard until the COVID-19 pandemic forced her to step away.

A proud member of the NAACP, the ACLU, the League of Women Voters, Greenville County Democratic Women, the Sierra Club, and the South Carolina Education Association, Edith was also involved with the National Organization for Women, Planned Parenthood, and the Southern Poverty Law Center. She was firm in her convictions and unafraid to speak out for equality, justice, and human rights.

Edith was a true trailblazer, defying societal norms by raising her son as a single mother before it was common and navigating a mixed-race marriage, both with strength and love.

She also found immense joy in traveling and dancing. Whether a waltz, foxtrot, or swing, she brought the same energy and passion to the dance floor that she carried through all aspects of her life.

Edith was the eldest of four siblings and the last surviving member of her immediate family. She was preceded in death by her brothers, Bruce Jackson Taylor and Charles William Taylor, and her sister, Olivia Taylor Morrow.

She is survived by her son, Dennis Davidson Chou, Sr.; daughter-in-law, Kathryn Bell Chou; grandchildren, Dennis Davidson Chou, Jr., Stafford James Chou, and Lydia Jane Chou; sister-in-law, Lorene Taylor; and numerous nieces and nephews.

The family will receive friends on Sunday, February 16, from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM at Watkins, Garrett & Woods Mortuary. Funeral services will be held in the chapel at Christ Church Episcopal on Monday, February 17, 2025, 11:30 AM, with interment to follow at Woodlawn Memorial Gardens. All services will take place in Greenville, South Carolina.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the charity of one’s own choosing.