2023 after a short but arduous battle with cancer. Born on April 12, 1932, Muriel was the
youngest of six siblings born to William and Louise (Boylan) Taylor. While all her older siblings
were born in Charleston, SC, the birthplace of her parents, Muriel was born in New York. Since
her mother died when she was two years old, Muriel was raised by her older sisters and other
extended family members in the Bronx, NY and West Harlem.
After attending Walton High School where she became interested in studying the sciences,
Muriel received a degree in Medical Technology from The Institute of Applied Arts & Sciences,
SUNY in 1951. While actively completing this degree and pursuing a BS at City College, CUNY,
Muriel actively worked in local laboratories as a biochemist at such places as St. Luke’s
Hospital, International Ladies Garment Workers Health Center, and Bureau of Food and Drug of
the New York City, Department of Health.
In 1964, Muriel traded a fulfilling and promising career in biochemistry to marry and have a
family. Muriel was the beloved wife of Harold Mullings (deceased), a Brooklyn native and
mechanical engineer who she met while working in the same building in lower Manhattan, 40
Worth Street. Muriel was a full-time mother lovingly devoting her time and energy to her five
children: Christopher, Kimberly, Lisa, Gina, and Anthony (deceased). Muriel initially raised her
family in Crown Heights, Brooklyn where she exposed her children to many cultural institutions
which helped foster their love, appreciation and gift for the arts. Always looking for ways to
enrich the lives of her children, Muriel organized outings and family vacations to new and
exciting places. As her children matured, Muriel was instrumental in moving the family to
Roosevelt Island as pioneers in a new residential community. Muriel stressed the importance of
education and encouraged each of her children to take advantage of learning opportunities
whether formally in the classroom or through the applied arts. She was proud of their
achievements in realizing successful careers in art, law, higher education and business.
As her children became independent adults, Muriel and Harold retired to Palm Coast, FL in
1991. They settled into the community as parishioners at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton and
members of the Black Catholic Guild. Supporting the community by raising funds for college
scholarships and helping to organize the Black Heritage Day Celebration, both Muriel and her
husband served as officers and members of the Afro-American Caribbean Heritage
Organization (AACHO) for several years. Throughout her retirement years, Muriel most enjoyed
traveling with her husband, and celebrating holidays and birthdays with their immediate family.
Muriel enjoyed a host of hobbies for which she showed expert talent: baking cakes and other
confections, sewing and altering of clothes, interior decorating, in evidence of the furnishings
throughout her home, and painting figures and scenes from nature in her sunroom. While Muriel
excelled in the sciences, she took delight in writing essays and remembrances about her life
experiences and never shied away from drafting formal reports or minutes related to AACHO’s
organizational activities. Muriel was a prolific letter writer who often provided counsel and
guidance to her children in this manner. Of course, she was in frequent contact with her family
and would pick up the phone to catch up on the latest life events.
Muriel is survived by son, Christopher and his wife, April of NY, daughters, Kimberly and her
husband, Michael of NY, Lisa and her partner, Jason of NY, Gina and her husband, Troy of SC.
Muriel was also the loving grandmother to Gabrielle, Indigo and Hudson. She is survived by
countless extended family, including siblings, nieces, cousins, and many local friends, especially
neighbors known over the 30 years of living in Palm Coast, FL.
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