Obituary for Dr. Brenda E. Richey-Taylor Dr. Brenda Elaine Richey Taylor quietly departed this life on June 22, 2018, after a brief but critical illness. Dr. Taylor was born on June 24, 1941, in Columbus, Ohio, to the late Edward William Richey and Sarah Virginia Richey. She was an only child and the apple of her parents’ eye.
In 1958, Dr. Taylor graduated from East High School in Columbus, Ohio. Right after high school, she attended Bennett College in Greensboro, North Carolina where she participated in the 1960 sit in civil rights demonstrations. She subsequently earned a Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education from Central State University in Wilberforce, Ohio.
Throughout her childhood and as an adult, Dr. Taylor was a devoted and active member of Union Grove Baptist Church in Columbus, Ohio. Reverend Phale D. Hale was her beloved pastor. Dr. Taylor married Dr. Larry C. Taylor in December of 1964, and to this union two daughters were born.
While the marriage ended, she went on to become a phenomenal, skilled, and loving single mother. Her primary goal was to raise two productive young ladies who could make positive contributions to the world in which we live. Dr. Taylor not only committed her life to her daughters, but she dedicated her professional life to serving all children from all neighborhoods.
As a result, she experienced a very successful career educating children and adults. In order to support and advance her work with learners of all ages, Dr. Taylor earned a Master’s degree from Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan and a Doctor of Philosophy degree from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Both degrees were in the field of Early Childhood Education.
Dr. Taylor always used her sincere love of children and top-notch knowledge about childhood development to teach elementary school children in three states: Ohio, Michigan, and Georgia. In addition, her advanced degrees enabled her to effectively teach and guide college and university students in Michigan and Georgia. Because of her passion and commitment to excellence when improving the educational opportunities and outcomes of underserved young children, Dr. Taylor served as the Director of Head Start and Early Head Start in DeKalb County, Georgia.
Although she retired in 2005, she continued to do educational consultant work nationwide for Head Start and volunteered in her community up until 2017. As a result of her generous spirit, friendly smile, and super pleasant personality, Dr. Taylor was adored and respected by many. She opened her heart and home to people she cared about, and she truly never met a stranger.
Her overall love of life and for all people was as beautiful as the flowers and plants she loved to grow and the colorful birds she liked to watch from her back porch. Her encouraging influence and optimistic impact will forever remain in the lives, minds, and hearts of all who knew her. Dr. Taylor will forever be cherished and tremendously missed by her two daughters, Sonya (Raymond, Sr.) Taylor-Clunie of Conyers, Georgia, and Tawni (Sidney, Sr.) Taylor-Anderson of Stone Mountain, Georgia; grandchildren Raymond Clunie, Jr. of Johns Creek, Georgia, Tasia Anderson of Mooresville, North Carolina, and Sidney Anderson, Jr. of Charlotte, North Carolina; close “sibling friends” since childhood Dr. John R. Browne of San Diego, California, Mrs. Joanne Foster (her Plunkie) of Columbus, Ohio, K. Banks of Fort Hood, New Jersey, Yvonne Holland of Columbus, Ohio, Mignonne Whitlow of Columbus, Ohio, and Carol Wilkerson of Columbus, Ohio; cousins and close friends Yvonne Method-Walker of Rex, Georgia and Van Dyke Walker III of Riverdale, Georgia; her BFF Dollye “Faye” Eakins of Detroit, Michigan; her “third daughter” Brigitte Bowser of Decatur, Georgia; sisters-in-law Jackie Brown of Atlanta, Georgia and Sandra (Paul) Loftley of Decatur, Georgia; nieces Cicely Brown of Atlanta, Georgia, Christye (Marlon) Lannaman of Fayetteville, Georgia, Cangela (Delwyn) McAlister of Atlanta, Georgia, and Shari Loftley of Atlanta, Georgia; a nephew Taylor Loftley of Nashville, Tennessee; and a host of great nieces and nephews, special cousins, dear friends, and caring colleagues.
Celebration of Life will be held on Monday July 2, 2018 at 11:00 AM at the South DeKalb Chapel of Gregory B. Levett & Sons Funeral Home. She will be laid to rest at Kennedy Memorial Gardens, 2500 River Rd Ellenwood GA 30294. Visitation hours are set from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM on Saturday June 30, 2018 at the South DeKalb Chapel of Gregory B. Levett & Sons Funeral Home.
Please express your condolence here on our website. Services entrusted to Gregory B. Levett & Sons Funeral Home, 4347 Flat Shoals Pkwy. Decatur GA 30034.
404-241-5656. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Dr. Brenda E. Richey-Taylor please visit our Sympathy Store. Upcoming Events Visitation 2018 JUN 30.
02:00 PM – 05:00 PM South DeKalb Chapel 4347 Flat Shoals Pkwy. SOUTH DEKALB Decatur, GA, US, 30034 info@levettfuneralhome.com Order Flowers for the Visitation Guaranteed delivery before Brenda’s Visitation begins. Celebration of Life 2018 JUL 2.
11:00 AM Gregory B. B Levett and Sons – South DeKalb Chapel 4347 Flat Shoals Pkwy. Decatur, GA, US, 30034 Order Flowers for the Celebration of Life Guaranteed delivery before Brenda’s Celebration of Life begins.
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