Mildred Taylor

Mildred Wilde Taylor, age 80, was born February 23, 1928 and went to be with her Lord and Savior on Saturday, March 1, 2008 after succumbing to an unexpected illness during a recent hospitalization. She was a native and lifelong resident of Haywood County and a daughter of Bertie Battles Wilde and the late, William Gentry "Shorty" Wilde. She was also preceded in death by a brother Bobby Wilde. She was known as "Millie" to her family and friends and had just celebrated her 80th birthday at Autumn Care of Waynesville with her mother, who was celebrating her 100th birthday and her son, Barry, celebrating his 50th birthday, with over 200 family and friends in attendance. Millie's life was spent in her music and the church. She was a talented pianist and singer putting those talents to use in many churches. For the past 20 years she was a member of the High Street Baptist Church in Canton, where she served as the pianist and helped with the High Street choir. She also taught the Adult Sunday School class and was active in the Women's Missionary Union. Her faithfulness to God and the churches she has served have touched many lives. This past Sunday, she was able to attend her church once more and sang a song from her wheelchair before the pastor's message. It was a favorite of the congregation "The God on the Mountain Is Still God in the Valley." It is a fitting memorial to her faith in God during good times and bad. In addition to her mother, she is survived by one daughter, Beverly Smith of Canton; a son, Barry Dean Byrd and his fiancée, Theresa Hannon, of Lake Alfred FL; four step-daughters, Debbie Youngblood of Clayton, GA, Shirley Clemons and Donna Wolford, both of Tampa, FL, and Belinda Dykes of Auburndale, FL; one step-son, Michael Taylor of Auburndale, FL; a brother, Richard Wilde and his wife Carmen, of Clyde; two sisters, Jean Robinson and her husband Max and Janice Liner and her husband Bud, all of Canton; four grandchildren, Rebecca Smith, Ashley Thomas and Mark and Robert Hannon; and one great-granddaughter, Kadence Thomas. Services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, March 5, 2008, at High Street Baptist Church with Reverend Christopher Willett and Reverend Milton Hollifield officiating. Burial will follow in Bon-A-Venture Cemetery on the Old Clyde Road. The family will receive friends from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m. Tuesday evening at Wells Funeral Home of Canton. Memorials may be made to High Street Baptist Church, 73 High Street, Canton, NC 28716.

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