Queen Ida B. Taylor

Obituary

Deaconess Queen Ida Leila Blanding Taylor

June 17, 1928 ~ January 25, 2023

IDA LEILA BLANDING TAYLOR……In the early morning hours of Wednesday, January 25, 2023, Jesus came to visit with His Child as He had done so many mornings before. But this morning He saw that His Daughter’s Journey had been long and the miles of life were clearly shown, so He whispered in her ear in a sweet and loving tone, "Come Rest My Daughter; Come Rest," and Queen Ida B. fell asleep in The Lord surrounded by her Sons who had worship with prayer & singing as they committed their Queen to The Lord.

The widow of Elder Joseph Taylor, Ida Leila Blanding Taylor, 94, was the fifth child and daughter of the late Silas and Annie Eliza Middleton Blanding. Ida B. was born on Sunday, June 17, 1928, in Pineville, South Carolina, in Berkeley County.

Educated in the schools of Berkeley County, South Carolina, Ida B. completed High School and like many young people growing up in the South during this era, Ida B. decided that if she was going to make the most of the talents and gifts the Lord gave her, she would need to leave home and journey north to New York City. On Saturday, May 25, 1945, Ida B. departed Pineville with Nippie Rebecca Green, Annie Cooper Milligan, and Margaret Howell. Ida B. would eventually come to live with cousins Tony and Bertha Dawkins in Corona, New York. This put Ida B. one step closer to meeting the man God showed her in a dream, the man who would be her husband.

On Sunday, March 25, 1951, through a mutual friend, Harold Harris, Ida B. met the love of her life, Joseph Taylor, who was the man God showed her in a dream. Ida B. & Joseph were married on the evening of Tuesday, July 10, 1951 at the home of Tony and Bertha Dawkins in Corona, New York. To this union were born four sons: Richard Anthony, Cornel, Emmanuel Timothy, and Michael Gavan. Ida B. raised her Sons to be well groomed men in all areas. She taught each Son how to cook, sew, do laundry, iron clothes and make beds with hospital corners. Ida B’s motto was, “There is no guarantee you will get married and if you do, there is no guarantee that you will marry someone who can cook, clean & sew. I will not have a Son of mine out in the world who can’t take care of himself.” This guidance has served all of Ida B’s Sons to this very day. “Thank you Mommy!” Ida B. and Joseph were blessed to celebrate 65 years of marriage together in July of 2016. To God Be the Glory!

A woman of faith with a heart for the Lord, Ida B. was a very active and a faithful member of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church. This journey of faith began in New York City at the Corona Seventh-Day Adventist Church where she served as a faithful Choir Member, Children’s Sabbath School Teacher, and Head Deaconess. This journey concluded in Sumter, South Carolina at the Berea Seventh-Day Adventist Church where Ida B. served as Choir Member, Children’s Sabbath School Teacher, and Deaconess until her health began to fail.

An entrepreneur and a lady of many talents, Ida B. was an accomplished Seamstress, Florist, Chef, Social Entertainer, Childcare Provider, and a Certified Home Health Nurse.

Ida B. was blessed to participate in a Home Health Nurse Certification course that was offered by the Northeastern Conference of Seventh-Day Adventist, in Jamaica, New York. Upon receiving her Home Health Nurse Certification, with her “Back to Eden Herbal Handbook” in hand, Ida B. began supporting families with loved ones who were ill at home, in our Church, and in the community.

Ida B. loved to sew and taught herself how to make her own clothes. As a result of this talent, Ida B. made all of her curtains, drapes, and everything in between. Ida B. also made a complete bed ensemble for each of her Sons and had the desire to do the same for her Grandchildren before her health failed. Ida B. had a true “Green Thumb” & loved flowers & plants. This love for plants was evidenced by Joseph having to rent a U-Haul Trailer to tow all of Ida B.’s plants from New York to South Carolina in July of 1985. Ida B. was determined that she was not leaving her plants in New York City!

Ida B. & Joseph loved to entertain and for many years hosted the Deacon & Deaconess Holiday Party at the home in New York. Upon Ida B.’s move to Sumter the entertaining shifted to host the annual Children’s Fall Festival at their home, which gave the children from church an alternative to Halloween.

If you were ever blessed to sit at Ida B.’s table for a meal, you were in for a treat. Ida B. was known for her brand of down-home collard greens, corn bread, macaroni & cheese and apple pie. Ida B. also shared her culinary gift with the Lord. Ida B. was the Master Baker of the Whole Wheat Unleavened Communion Bread which was a staple of the church’s Communion Service both in New York & Sumter.

Finally, Ida B. was genuinely loving and caring for her follow Brothers & Sisters in Christ and their Children. After Ida B.’s youngest Son was in middle school, Ida B. began a home day care program. Ida B. was blessed to love, care for and nurture the children of over 6 families in New York. This program continued in Sumter where Ida B. supported many Military Families and served as a surrogate Grandmother and Child Caregiver to young military families without local relatives. To this day, some of the children, who are now adults, remain in touch with the Taylor Family.

Ida B. lived, loved, and served by the Golden Rule…”Do unto others as you would have done unto yourself." Ida B. made it her mission in life to work towards always bringing people together as a Peacemaker. She loved The Lord and was never afraid to stand on The Word of God, even the day a Mugger/Con-Man in Flushing, Queens attempted to swindle Ida B. out of her money. Ida B. told “The Con-Man”, “I know exactly what you are trying to do & The Lord is not pleased with you. Now come walk with me so I can share The Bible with you and you can stop this foolishness!” Ida B. walked with this man for over 30 minutes sharing God’s Love & the Man promised to do better. Joseph almost fainted when Ida B. shared her story. Ida B. said, “I wasn’t afraid, because I knew The Lord was protecting me.” The most precious gift that Ida B. gave to her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and anyone willing to listen and receive was to introduce them to Our Lord & Savior Jesus Christ. Ida B. often shared that her number one desire was to see all her family Saved to Live with The Lord forever.

Ida B. was preceded in death by her husband, Joseph Taylor; her Son, Michael Gavan Taylor; her Grandson, Joseph Gavan Taylor; her two Daughters-in-Love, Vietta Taylor and Renee Taylor; her parents, Silas & Annie Blanding; and her siblings, William Blanding, James Blanding, Dorothy Blanding Jones, Isaiah “Port” Blanding, Joe Blanding & Alice Blanding Blair.

Ida B. is survived by three loving and devoted sons, Richard Anthony Taylor of Lincoln, Nebraska; Cornel Taylor of Cary, North Carolina; and Emmanuel Timothy “E.T.” Taylor of the home; three Daughters-in-Love, Nydia (The Late Michael) Taylor of Tampa, Florida; Marceen Taylor of Tampa, Florida and Deneen Taylor of Cary, North Carolina; one sibling, Lillie Mae Blanding Dingle of Pineville, South Carolina; two Sisters-in-Love, Jesse Mae (The Late Isaiah) Blanding of Pineville, South Carolina and Emogene (The Late Percy Lee) Taylor of Long Island, New York; one Brother-in-Love, Robert Taylor of Long Island, New York; 14 Grandchildren; 12 Great-Grandchildren and a host of Godchildren, Nieces, Nephews, Family, Church Family, and Friends.

Family Acknowledgements:

We, the family of Deaconess Queen Ida Leila Blanding Taylor would like to thank each of you for the many acts of Love, Kindness & Support expressed to us during the heartfelt loss of our Dear Sweet Queen. May The Lord Bless and Keep each of you now & always.

Our Medical Family: Prisma Health Senior Primary Care Service, Dr. Tisha Smith Boston, MD & Dr. Prexa Dolatrai Naik, MD, the Prisma Health Neurology Service, Dr. Souvik Sen, the Prisma Health Emergency Medicine Service, ParkRidge Campus, Richland Campus & Tuomey Campus, the Prisma Health Hospitalist, ParkRidge Campus, Richland Campus & Tuomey Campus, the Prisma Health Administrators on Duty, ParkRidge Campus, Richland Campus & Tuomey Campus. FasterCare Urgent Clinic, Sumter, Dr. Dr. Brian R. Lecher, DO, Dr. Stacey Merritt, DNP & Mr. Donnie Brad Freeman APRN NPI. The Prisma Health Home Health, Palliative Care & Hospice Service. The Amedisys Home Health, Palliative Care & Hospice Service.

Our Precious Caregivers, Mrs. Lou Ella Wilson, Mrs. Joy Stackhouse, Mrs. Lou Nelson, Ms. Vermelle Nwokeji, Mother Flossie Cooke, Mrs. Tracy Gathers, Ms. Catherine Lytch, Ms. Annie McGainey, Ms. Annette Green, Mrs. Doris Dupree, Ms. Alvia Richardson, Ms. Lydia McCoy, Mrs. Kathrina Samuels Corbett, RN, Mrs. Sylvia Christian James, RN, Mrs. Dot Lawson, RN & Ms. Angela Sanders, RN.

This nine-year journey which began on Tuesday, October 8, 2013 would have been oh, so much more difficult, had it not been for your genuine love, care and support to ensure that The Queen always received the absolute best care. May The Lord richly bless every one of you for the difference you made in The Queen’s life & the lives you touch each and every day. We Love You!

We have this hope that burns within our hearts; hope in the coming of the Lord. We have this faith that Christ alone imparts; faith in the promise of his Word. While our hearts are heavy, the Taylor family will ‘Stand on The Promise” that this is just a transition of life and if we continue to live and serve our Lord faithfully every day, we will see our Sweet Queen Ida B. again. Sweet Rest Dear Mommy; Sweet Rest. Our Earthly Queen is at Peace awaiting the Trumpet Sound of Our Heavenly King! When We All Get To Heaven!! Oh What A Day of Rejoicing That Will Be!!! HALLELUJAH!! AMEN!!

A Heartfelt Thank you to Mr. Harvin Bullock, Mr. Todd Timmons & the amazing staff of the Bullock Funeral Home. We Love You! http://www.bullockfuneralhome.com/

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