Early Tuesday evening, Marian Dunsmuir Taylor was ushered through the gates of heaven into the presence of her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. She was born in Savannah, GA on March 22, 1929.

She was preceded in death by her husband Lewis “Ted” Taylor Sr., her father Robert Dunsmuir, her stepfather Battey Bragg, her mother Nativity Custin Bragg, and her sisters Betty Cawley, Martha Davis, Faye Holsten, Ann Colanero, and Bobbi Trevino.

Marian was a Savannah “born-and-bred” girl! She was raised at Montgomery, attended 32nd Street School, and graduated from Savannah High School. During those years she enjoyed her pet dogs, window-shopping in downtown Savannah, and going to Tybee Beach. She also discovered her life-long love of sewing!! Marian’s mom was the first to teach her to sew. Soon she advanced to levels of skill that landed her a vital role in sewing costumes for the Masquers, the theater troupe at Armstrong Junior College. She graduated from Armstrong as Valedictorian.

Marian and Ted were in the same Psychology Class. He missed a class and asked for her notes. He couldn’t read them—a good excuse to get together! And together they were for almost 68 years! Married by Rev. John Wilder on Dec 16, 1950 in a simple ceremony at the old Calvary Baptist Chapel on Barnard Street, they enjoyed a life of love and joy together spanning almost 7 decades. They loved traveling out West and often to the Smokies to see the leaves. Mom loved filling her yard and house with plants and flowers of all sizes and shapes. To protect her “prized possessions” during freezing weather, the house became a jungle, with plants covering and crowding every possible space.

Marian was a wonderful mom to her four children. As Mark 10:45 says, she truly lived “not to be served, but to serve.” She gladly gave her life cooking 3 meals a day (over 30,000), washing clothes and hanging them on a clothesline, darning socks, sewing clothes for her children and herself, and doctoring scrapes and bee stings. During the holidays, she delighted them with her potato salad and ham, along with pies and cookies stacked everywhere! The whole neighborhood and all the relatives loved coming to her house.

She was a devoted grandmother to Arielle, Whitney, Cole, and Jacob. With a professional’s skill unmatched today, she sewed incredible dresses for the girls including children’s wedding dresses. She always attended her grandchildren’s school programs and graduations whether in Savannah or far-away Marathon Key. With her bulky camera strapped around her neck, she joyfully snapped
a wheelbarrowful of pictures.

Through the crisis of her first-born having spinal meningitis, Marian came to faith in Jesus Christ. Her husband had given her a Bible and taken her to church a few times. She had heard about the blood of Jesus shed for sins, but she resisted bowing the knee to Jesus—until that night. There in the home, with the doctor saying all had been done and they needed to pray, Ted and Marian knelt in earnest prayer. In those moments, she sensed Jesus calling her to Himself. And without a word, she submitted and was saved.

Once converted, Marian hungered for the Word of God. She also read the book, Angel Unaware, by Dale Evans Rogers. Marian often marveled that her Aunt Lucy in California sent this book at the time of her conversion. She especially loved the New Testament book of Ephesians, taught by Dr. Hatch from Columbia Bible College, and Romans, taught by Donald Gray Barnhouse.

Soon, Marian’s love for the Word spilled over into teaching the Bible, a ministry she excelled at for over 50 years. She faithfully taught the Bible in her Women’s Sunday School Class at Taliaferro Baptist Church for over 40 years, mixed adult and children’s classes at Whitemarsh Island Baptist Church for over 20 years, Memorial Day School classes for over 16 years, and the JOY CLUB in her neighborhood for over 25 years. The Joy Club was a weekly gathering to teach neighborhood children the truths of the Bible. Marian joyfully taught the children with Flannelgraphs. Flannelgraph teaching uses cloth Bible figures attached to chalk-drawn cloth backgrounds. Over the years and even in her last days, people came by and called to thank her for teaching them the gospel of salvation through Jesus Christ.

Joy in the Lord marked Marian’s life. Her radiant smile expressed her heart. One of her favorite verses was “The joy of the Lord is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10). And now in heaven, “fullness of joy” in His presence is hers forever (Psalm 16:10)!

She is survived by her three sons and one daughter: Lewis Taylor Jr. of Savannah, GA, Stephen Taylor (Tois) of Kings Mountain, NC, Patricia Taylor (Al) of Walden, VT, and Bruce Taylor of Miami, FL; her three granddaughters and one grandson: Arielle Taylor-Manges (Chris), Whitney Taylor Krawczyk (Tony), Cole Taylor (Ray), and Jacob Taylor (Mary); Cole and Jacob’s mother Cindy; and three great-granddaughters: Riley, Lily, and Sophie Krawczyk.

A celebration of life service will be held at 1pm on Tuesday, April 28th at Whitemarsh Island Baptist Church, 59 Johnny Mercer Blvd, Savannah, GA 31410. In lieu of the customary visitation and receiving of friends, the Taylor family cordially invites you ALL to have lunch with us! In the tradition of Baptist food and fellowship, this will be a time to enjoy a meal, visit, and celebrate together before the service begins. Please join us at anytime beginning at 11:30am in the Whitemarsh Island Baptist Church Fellowship Hall. Lunch is provided.

The family deeply and gratefully thanks Lewis A. Taylor Jr. for his selfless service to Mom! He has sacrificed his life for over 15 years, first taking care of Dad and in these last years, caring for Mom. How we honor and thank him for his faithful and meticulous care!

Remembrances may be sent to Whitemarsh Island Baptist Church, 59 Johnny Mercer Blvd, Savannah, GA 31410.