Margaret Taylor's Obituary
Margaret Taylor, a lifelong educator in Memphis, died on Sunday, May 17 at age 97. “Mrs. Taylor” as she was fondly called, attended the University of Memphis where she was a member of Alpha Gamma Delta Fraternity, President of the Pan-Hellenic Council, and graduated Cum Laude. Her love of education blossomed as a math teacher at East High School. After 14 years at East, she earned her Masters degree and became principal of Grahamwood School for the next 24 years. At Grahamwood, her love for the children, faculty, staff, and parents drove her to get them all involved in working for excellence in their school and in 1985 Grahamwood was recognized as one of the best schools in the State and the following year as one of the best 200 schools in the Nation. Mrs. Taylor received numerous individual awards including Optimist Club outstanding Teacher Award 1988, Kiwanis Club Outstanding Senior Citizen of the Year 1990, Memphis State Educator of the Year 1991, and in 2005 was inducted into the Shelby County Schools Alumni Hall of Fame. Even after retiring from Grahamwood at age 77, Mrs. Taylor continued to contribute by evaluating student teachers for The University of Memphis and most recently monitoring tutors in the Peer Power program at East High until she was 95 years old. She was Chairman of the State Principals Study Council, in the Girl Scouts Women’s Network, The Brooks League, Woman’s Exchange, on The Crescent Club Board of Governors, and in Leadership Memphis class of 1986. In her private time, Mrs. Taylor enjoyed playing Bunco and ceramics and was an avid knitter making her own signature suits for school. Traveling, eating out with friends, tending to her pots of flowers, following Tigers and Grizzlies basketball, and Sunday night dinners with family occupied most of her spare time. She loved attending East High class reunions and keeping up with her former teachers, students and their parents. Mrs. Taylor was predeceased by her husband, Herman S. Taylor and son Gordon Taylor. She is survived by her daughter, Annette Schneider, daughter-in-law Wanda Taylor, cherished family friend John Butkiewicz and her grandchildren and their spouses Jesse and Karen Brownfield, Jim and Jan Orick, and Scott and Holland Taylor and one great-grandchild, Chelsea Taylor. The family will receive friends Wednesday, May 20, from 5-7 pm and funeral services will be Thursday, May 21, at 11:30 am at Memorial Park Funeral Home.Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Memorial Park Funeral Home and Cemetery, 5668 Poplar Ave. Memphis, TN 38119, “Behind the Stone Wall.”
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