Anne Gwendolyn (Alley) Taylor, 85

Anne Gwendolyn Taylor, age 85, resident of Josephine, Alabama passed away peacefully on January 28, 2023. She was born in Echols County, Georgia on September 10, 1937 to Carlos William & Nancy Opal Alley. She grew up in rural Georgia the daughter of farmers, working in the fields alongside her dad, mom and brothers. She graduated from Reinhardt College in Waleska, Georgia with her Associate’s Degree in Education and taught elementary school in Adel, Georgia for two years while she waited for her future husband to graduate from the University of Idaho. She married Zelma Lowell Taylor, Jr. on June 12, 1959 in Adel. She supported her husband as the wife of a young Marine Corps officer, while he attended graduate school at Auburn University, and while he earned his PhD at the University of Florida. During this time their daughter Sally was born in 1960, followed quickly by son Gil in 1961. Latecomer, Matt, arrived in 1967. She was a dedicated mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She and Lowell moved 13 times during their marriage – they lived in Camp Lejeune, New Jersey, Auburn (four times), Gainesville, Birmingham, Ozark,  Atlanta, and finally Josephine for their retirement. While in Birmingham Anne enjoyed being a substitute school teacher and working in retail at Pizitz/McRaes. They lived in Auburn four times and she never separated from Auburn University in her heart, being one of “THOSE Auburn fans”…….. rabid and unapologetic about all things Auburn. She truly bled orange and blue. Because of their time in Gainesville at the University of Florida, she would acknowledge the “Gators” but never over Auburn. During her retirement years in Josephine she enjoyed gardening, attending many activities for her grandchildren and participating in activities at Josephine Baptist Church. She was a good mother and wife, always teaching her children the value of hard work and doing the right thing. She was a product of her upbringing, always falling back to the important things that her mother and father taught her. She loved her parents very much. She is survived by her brothers Ray Alley (Beverly) of Adel, GA, Frank Alley (Martha Jo) of Sparks, GA, and Doug Alley (Vona Sue) of Lenox, GA; children Sally T. Haislip (Tom Cowan) of Hiawassee, GA, Gilbert D. Taylor (Pam) of Swansboro, NC, & Matthew R. Taylor (Brooke) of Josephine, AL; 9 grandchildren; 9 great grandchildren; as well as many other loving relatives and friends. The family would like to say a special thank you to the employees at Waterford at Creekside in Pensacola for their loving care of their mother. A memorial service was held at Josephine Baptist Church on Saturday February 4th at 2:00.