Elsie M (Hawkins) Taylor

        Elsie Mae Hawkins Taylor, daughter of the late Joseph and Elsie Hawkins, was born October 17, 1923 in Camden, Delaware.  She was one of fifteen siblings.  Elsie transitioned into eternal rest on Monday, February 12, 2018 surrounded by her family.  She was 94 years old.

     Elsie received her education in the Maryland School District.  Elsie was a domestic worker for a very prominent family in Dover on State Street (Maxwell Feller and Family).  Later in life she was hired by Kraft General Foods until her retirement in 1985.

     On July 28, 1959 she married her soulmate Elmer Taylor and from this union they had four children.  She was a loving and devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. 

     At a young age Elsie accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior.  During her early years she served as trustee and youth choir director at Mt. Plymouth A.M.E. Church.  Her family had a well-known gospel group called “The Traveling Lights” that traveled throughout the State of Delaware.  Elsie continued to carry this legacy by co-founding with her daughter for over ten years, a women’s gospel choir “The United Women’s Ensemble”.  Elsie was always there for all of her siblings and her own family. 

     She was a strong woman, devout Christian, and always greeted you with a smile.  This strong tenacity carried over into the rearing of her four children and their families.  She gave her children the foundation on which their lives were built.  She taught them the importance of family, faith, kindness, forgiveness, and love.  Her favorite scripture was Psalms 91. 

     Elsie had been a past member at Union Missionary Baptist Church, Calvary Baptist Church and a current member of John Wesley United Methodist church; under the leadership of Rev. Dr. Yvonne and Fred Brunson.  She loved to read her bible, sing, cook, and “Oh could she make some good chicken and dumplings, macaroni & cheese, fried chicken, fried fish, yeast rolls, biscuits, and fried cabbage”.  She loved gardening, and really enjoyed her vacations to Virginia, California, Arizona, Mexico, and frequent travels to Florida.  She also loved to be constantly surrounded by her family.

     She was preceded in death by her loving husband Elmer Taylor, eleven brothers, Roger, Thomas, Edward, Mark, William, Hope, Jeremiah, John, Simon, Milford, and Augustine, two sisters, Mahalia Hawkins, Ella Johns, and one grandson Antoine Hannah.

     She leaves to cherish her four children her fondest memories and legacy, Elaner (Stanton) Brown of Felton, DE, Gustavus (Donna) Taylor of Dover DE, Gregory (Sandra) Taylor of Dover DE, and Lorraine (Ray) Guinn of Middletown, DE.  She also leaves to cherish one sister Martha Briddles of Wilmington, DE, ten grandchildren, Tijuana (Macario) Patten, Sequoyah (Larry) Guinn-Watson, Doren Cephas, Kristin (Kevin) Brown-Massey, Stacy Taylor, Justin Cephas, Comellia Lofland, Gregory Taylor, and Octavia Taylor, eleven great-grandchildren, and a host of nieces and nephews.  She also leaves to cherish a dear friend Mrs. Bettye Bellamy. 

     A funeral service will be Noon Saturday, February 17, 2018 at First Pilgrim Baptist Church, 27 S. Caesar Rodney Avenue, Camden, DE 19934 where there will be a viewing from 10:00 A.M. to 12:00 P.M. Saturday.  Burial will follow in Gibbs Memorial Garden.  Online condolences may be made via www.pippinfuneralhome.com. 

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