Mary Gaffney Taylor

Mary Gaffney Taylor, 92, formerly of Charlotte and Black Mountain, died Saturday, January 20, 2007 at College Pines Nursing Center in Valdese, NC. She was born in Raleigh on April 7, 1914, and was the daughter of the late Elias and Mattie Johnston Gaffney. Mary was married for 60 years to her beloved husband, James David Taylor, who preceded her in death in 1998. Mrs. Taylor was educated at Peace Academy, Davidson College, and graduated from Flora McDonald College. She was a former English and Latin teacher at Cannon High School in Kannapolis, NC where Mary met her husband. After marriage, she devoted her life to her husband, children, and her home. Mary and James were charter members of Park Road Baptist Church in Charlotte where she taught Sunday school. She had been a member of the Piedmont Patriots Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Mrs. Taylor was a member of the First Baptist Church in Morganton and was a member of the Annie Walker Sunday School Class. In addition to her parents and husband, Mary was preceded in death by her brother, Franklin Gaffney and his wife, Anna Marie, of Panama City, FL.

Mary is survived by a son, James David Taylor, Jr. and wife, Katherine, of Lincolnton, NC; a daughter, Mary Marcia Salsbury and husband, Robert Baker Salsbury, of Morganton; grandchildren, Nicole Taylor Kincaid and husband, Adam, Ashley Taylor Jacobs, Kimberley and Courtney Taylor, David Baker Salsbury and wife, Katie, Katy Salsbury Edmondson and husband, Kris, and John Taylor Salsbury; and great grandchildren, Kaitlyn and Colin Kincaid, Madison Taylor Jacobs, Lucie and Mason Taylor Salsbury, and Jake Edmondson.

The family would like to especially thank Frances Bibb for her loving care of Mrs. Taylor at the Fairview Care Home in Connelly Springs where Mary had resided since 2003, and also to the staff at College Pines for their care and support.

A memorial service to celebrate the life of Mary Taylor will be held Wednesday, January 24, 2007 at 11:00 a.m. at the First Baptist Church with Rev. Dr. Thomas A. Bland, Jr. officiating following a private family burial at Burke Memorial Park. The family will greet friends in the church parlor following the memorial service. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church, P.O. Drawer 459, Morganton, NC 28680. Sossoman Funeral Home is assisting the family with the arrangements.