Mary H Taylor

            Mary Hamilton Taylor, a resident of Silver Spring and prior to that Beltsville and Laurel, died on Saturday, November 19 at Washington Hospital Center following a stroke.  She was 69 years of age.

            Mary was born April 22, 1947, at the family home at Willoughby Beach in Norfolk, Virginia.  Her father was Dr. William Hannis Taylor and her mother was Leonora Bell Taylor, both deceased.  Later in life Mary took the nickname “Mary Bell” in honor of her mother.  Mary attended the Rydingsvard School for Exceptional Children and learned fundamental academic skills while working with the challenges of Downs syndrome.   Following her school years she worked at the sheltered workshop on Colley Avenue where she became proficient with lettershop skills, including use of the typewriter. 

            She enjoyed composing her life story, letters, even a play, writing out her many thoughts by hand or the typewriter.  She became skilled with several textile art forms, including Dutch weaving and latchhooking.  Her sense of color amazed everyone.  She also attended the Preston School of Dance where she learned ballet .   Her creativity in later years expressed itself in ink drawings that she colored in with markers, and she left a legacy of many such drawings that show her great imagination and love of bright colors.

            Mary moved with her mother to Maryland 1981 to live with her sister , brother-in-law, and niece.   She worked in sheltered workshops, primarily Centers for the Handicapped.  Mary expressed a desire to live in the community, and she first moved to a group home in Laurel.  Later she moved to a home in Beltsville operated by Christian Assisted Living for Mentally Retarded Adults (CALMRA).  Her House Counselor was Mrs. Lois Money and later Mrs. Money’s daughter Tammy, whom Mary affectionately referred to as “my second Sister.” Mary retired from the workshop setting and devoted more time to her art work and other activities at the CALMRA Day Program in Laurel.

Her church was always very important to her.  In the past she had been a member of the Willoughby Baptist Chapel in Norfolk, St. John Lutheran Church in Riverdale, and Abiding Presence Lutheran Church in Beltsville.  At present she was a member of Good Tidings Tabernacle Church in Beltsville where she attended with her housemates.  She sang the hymns enthusiastically and felt loved by the congregation.

            She is survived by her sister, Barbara Taylor Nock, her brother-in-law Bill Nock, niece Elizabeth Bolin and her husband Brian, housemates Marilyn Bader and Nancy Trainman, and her “second sister” Tammy Mae Money. 

       Relatives and friends are invited to visit at the Donaldson’s Funeral Home, PA. 313 Talbot Avenue, Laurel MD 20707 on Friday, November 25, from 4 – 7 pm. Further visitation will be held  at Good Tidings Tabernacle Church, 4911 Powder Mill Road, Beltsville MD 20705 on Saturday, November 26 from 10:30 until 11 am at which time a funeral service will be held. Cremation service to follow will be private. In honor of Mary, please wear bright colors.  According to Mary’s wishes, her ashes will be interred next to her mother in Norfolk, Virginia.

            Memorial donations may be made to Good Tidings Tabernacle Church, or to CALMRA, Inc., 5020 Sunnyside Avenue, Suite 206, Beltsville, MD 20705.

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