Beverly Brown Taylor

Beverly Brown Taylor passed away peacefully Jan. 9 after an extended illness.

Beverly was born Nov. 2, 1936, the youngest of eight children born to Odus and Pearl Brown of the Hills Chapel community near Booneville, Miss. She graduated from Booneville High School and went to work as a telephone operator in Memphis.

She married Bobby Henry Taylor of Rienzi, and they had two daughters, Dianne and Torey, before moving to Russellville in 1963.

Beverly lived in Russellville for 48 years. She held several different jobs over the years, including being a kindergarten teacher, a bookkeeper at Sibley Oil Company and a teller at Colonial Bank, as well as working in the Franklin County Courthouse. She was well known for her tireless service in various roles at Calvary Baptist Church, and she was locally famous for being a fabulous cook and the most gracious hostess. She loved gardening and had green thumbs on both hands for growing fruits, vegetables and flowers.

There wasn’t much Beverly could not do well, but friends and family will say that she LOVED especially well.

She was a very special grandmother – Nana – to her four grandchildren, who have lovely memories of baking cookies, playing in her expansive yard and enjoying almost never-ending fun.

After Bobby’s death in 2007, Beverly eventually moved to Florence, and for the past several years she has enjoyed being a member of the “Love” Sunday School class at Highland Baptist Church and being a resident at Renaissance Assisted Living.

Beverly touched the lives of so many throughout the years and will be dearly missed. The family would especially like to thank Dr. Eric Santiago for his many years of care and the doctors and staff of Keller Hospital for their loving kindness during her recent stay.

She is survived by daughters Dianne Dodson (Harland) of Florence and Torey Mouser (Randy) of Morristown, Tenn.; grandchildren Nick Dodson of Florence, Trevor Dodson of Cleveland, Ohio, and Taylor Mouser and Patton Mouser of Morristown, Tenn.; sister Virginia Penna of Bartlett, Tenn.; sisters-in-law Elizabeth Jane Eure (Jerry) of Northport and Louise Brown of Madison, Miss.; and numerous nieces and nephews, whom she loved.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Bobby Taylor; parents Odus and Pearl Brown; brothers Leamon Brown, Vance Brown, Johnny Browne, Ewell Brown and Edwin Brown; sister Maylene Brown; brother-in-law Welmer Penna; and sisters-in-law Eula Brown, Hazel Brown and Eva Nell Brown.

The family will receive visitors at Calvary Baptist Church in Russellville Jan. 12 from noon until 2 p.m. The funeral service will begin at 2 p.m. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Vision Fund of Calvary Baptist Church or to a charity of choice.

Pinkard Funeral Home of Russellville is assisting the family, www.pinkardfh.com.