Mary Taylor

Mary Elizabeth Smith "Beth" Taylor was born September 30, 1929 in the small east Texas town of Cleveland. She passed from this life peacefully on January 11, 2016. Her parents were Pearl Zinn Smith, a schoolteacher, and Herbert Gibson Smith, Sr., a cattleman and the Chevy dealer in town. Mary Beth was the baby of the family. She had two brothers, Hub Jr. and Robert "Bobby", and a bunch of boy cousins. She often told stories of watching the boys play outside. They were very rough so she was not allowed to join them.

After her father died when she was about 14, and receiving the news her oldest brother, Hub Jr., a pilot, had been killed in action in the Pacific, she and her mother moved to California to be close to her brother, Bobby, who was stationed on the west coast. Beth finished high school in California, then the family returned to Texas before moving to New Orleans where she attended Sophie Newcomb College. Beth received a degree in music in 1950, winning many awards and honors, and performing as a soloist in the New Orleans Summer Pops and other venues. Beth had been a member of Alpha Delta Pi Sorority since her days at Newcomb. Her brother, Bobby, graduated from Tulane School of Architecture and practiced in New Orleans until his death in 1968.

Music had been a lifelong passion for Beth. She sang, danced, and played piano as a young girl. Her 1939 Chickering baby grand piano graces her daughter, Jennifer's, home in Macon. She would always cry when the legs came off the piano in preparation for moving. Music brought her together with her husband, Bill Taylor. While serving as the Music Librarian for the New Orleans Public Library, she got to know a young Tulane medical student. When he finally got up the courage to ask her for a date, and she accepted, he immediately pulled out his calendar book and asked for four more dates. Thus sealing the deal, they were married May 23, 1953 at Christ Church Cathedral in New Orleans.

The next five years were spent in small southern towns as Bill began his medical career. They finally returned to New Orleans in the summer of 1958, just in time for the birth of their second daughter, Elizabeth. They remained in New Orleans until May 2005, when they moved to Carlyle Place in Macon to be close to their granddaughter and family, Kate, Jennifer, and Tony Long.

Although she had missed New Orleans, her garden, and her friends of many years, Beth felt blessed to have been part of Kate's young life and to have moved from New Orleans before "the big one", Katrina, hit. Once she moved to Macon, she attended Christ Church. She participated in the Carlyle Place Choristers and Book Club.

Survivors include her husband of 62 years, Dr. William K. Taylor of Macon; two children, Jennifer Taylor Long (Tony, Sr.) of Macon, and Elizabeth S. Taylor, M.D. of Baton Rouge, Louisiana; four grandchildren, Kate Long of Athens, Georgia, Christy Robinson (Matt) of Romulus, New York, Jennifer Long (Erich Ohrenschall) of Atlanta, Georgia, and Tony Long, Jr. (Michael Stewart) of Macon; two great grandchildren, Tristan Robinson of Romulus, New York, and Everett Ohrenschall of Atlanta, Georgia.

A memorial service was held at 1:00PM on Saturday, January 16, 2016 at Christ Church with the Reverend Bryan Hinson officiating. Family greeted friends between 3:00-4:00PM after the service in the Grand Ballroom at Carlyle Place. Burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Christ Church Music Program, 582 Walnut Street, Macon, Georgia 31201, or Pine Pointe Hospice, 6261 Peake Road, Macon, Georgia 31210, or donor's favorite charity.

Register online at www.hartsmort.com.

Hart's Mortuary at the Cupola has charge of arrangements.