Norma Ellen Lee Taylor passed away on February 26, 2018, at Halcyon Hospice in Sandy Springs, Georgia. Norma was born in Jacksonville, Florida, August 25, 1929, to the late Hobart H. and Kitty Lee. Norma moved with her parents to Alma as a toddler and remained there for the rest of her life with the exception of her matriculation at Wesleyan College in Macon, Georgia. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband of almost 60 years, L.W. Taylor, Jr., and her son, Gregory Lee Taylor. She is survived by her son J. Martin Taylor and his wife Melinda of Marietta, Georgia; grandsons Jon and Anderson Taylor also of Marietta, Phillip Herrington and wife Christina of Live Oak, Florida, and Lee Taylor and wife Alison of Cincinatti, Ohio. She was blessed with her three great grandchildren, Emma and Jack Herrington, and Claire Taylor. She is also survived by her daughter-in-law Laverne Taylor of Alma, three sisters-in-laws, Betty Morris, Joyce Rozier and Tommie Taylor and many nieces, nephews, neighbors, friends, and her longtime canine companion Hallie.

Norma followed in her parents' footsteps as a longtime Alma Business owner, operating Taylor's First in Fashion for over 32 years and serving as a director and later Chairman of the Board at First National Bank. Norma, along with her husband L.W., was active in local and state politics, the Alma Model Cities Program, and the continued effort to foster economic growth and development in Bacon County.

Norma's greatest love was animals of any shape and size. She had daily conversations with her dog and cat, owned a horse and a pet monkey for many years as a child, and as an adult raised not only a litter of orphaned possums, but a squirrel she trained to live indoors and hop on her golf cart for a daily ride. Norma's second greatest love was poetry. She was known far and wide for her creative works which were tailored to each individual recipient and spoken from the heart. Running a close third and fourth were her adoration of ice cream and convertible cars.

Norma will be missed by many and the world will be a little less colorful without her keen wit and eccentric humor. She will be remembered always by her family and friends for her love of nature and her unique way of looking at the world. Perhaps she herself said it best in this original:

I felt candle flicker
and slowly catch its breath.
I understood its frailty.

It, too, needs a rest.

Then my children came to my bed

Alive with life and dreams

As my candle pauses

Theirs picks up steam.

As my life is ending

and slowly fading out

Their lives catch my breeze

and sends their flames about.

Funeral Services will be held at the Alma United Methodist Church on Thursday, March 1, 2018, at 2:00 p.m. with the Rev. William Dupree officiating. Interment will follow in Pine Lawn Cemetery. The family will be receiving friends at the funeral home Wednesday from 6 to 9 PM.

Active pallbearers will be Jon Taylor, Anderson Taylor, Lee Taylor, Phillip Herrington, William Lee, and cricket Taylor. All others in attendance will be honorary escorts.

In lieu of flowers the family request donations be made to the Alma United Methodist Church.