Mrs. Annabelle M. Taylor, 94, a resident of Temperanceville and wife of the late Clifford W. Taylor Sr., passed away June 12, 2020, in Exmore.
She was born in Assawoman, a daughter of the late James Floyd Matthews Sr. and the late Henrietta Chesser Matthews. She was the youngest of five children. Mrs. Taylor graduated from Temperanceville Elementary School and the first ever graduating class from the newly erected Atlantic High School, in Oak Hall, in 1943, after which she married on December 24th of the same year. Mrs. Taylor was an excellent cook and loved cross-stitch, which she did most evenings prior to bedtime. She was a hard worker, loved her family, and spent many hours cooking and constructing special handcrafted keepsakes for each family member and special friends.
Her family always looked forward to Sunday dinners at Mom-Mom and Pop’s house, a feast that could compare to a king’s banquet table. Many holiday meals and visits come to mind, but Christmas was so special to her; for in addition to the big meal, she had been cooking and preparing many varied, special, sweet treats for the occasion. She had an individual assortment of each, usually accompanied by a handmade tree ornament or craft for each family member as a going-home gift. Many other special memories of Mom, Mom-Mom, and Miss Annabelle will linger in their hearts forever.
She had a heart full of love (God’s love) for all she knew. She was a Christian and a member of Hallwood Baptist Church, where she attended faithfully for many years. In recent years, she attended Exmore Baptist Church, where she made many close Christian friends, whom she grew to know and love as they did her. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her; but, peace is found in the knowledge that she is now residing in Heaven in the arms of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and that we will unite again with her when we also make the journey to our eternal life.
Other than her parents, Mrs. Taylor was preceded in death by her loving husband of 66 years, Clifford W. Taylor Sr.; four siblings, Mary Matthews Hancock, Milton Taft Matthews, James Floyd Matthews Jr., and Sewell Washington (S.W.) Matthews; a special cousin, Althea Hancock Shelton; and a nephew, Jimmy Matthews.
Mrs. Taylor is survived by a son, Clifford W. Taylor Jr., and his wife, Betty C. Taylor (a most special daughter-in-law), of Exmore; a grandson, Clifford Paul Taylor, and wife, Michelle, of Lyman, Maine; a granddaughter, Jennifer Jo Justis, and husband, Troy, of Mappsburg; five great-grandchildren, Baylee Justis, Darbee Justis, Zachary Taylor, Ryan Taylor, and Annabelle Taylor; one niece, Carol Ann Matthews Taylor; and one nephew, Bruce Matthews.
Funeral services were conducted Wednesday, June 17, from the graveside of the John W. Taylor Cemetery in Temperanceville with the Rev. Jonathan Carpenter officiating. Interment followed.
