Virginia Hybart Taylor

Virginia McDuffie Hybart Taylor, a longtime resident of Mobile and Montrose, died April 21, 2024, in New Orleans. She was born in Monroeville in 1926, and graduated from Murphy High School in Mobile. She attended the University of Alabama, where she was a member of Kappa Delta sorority.

Virginia was a certified tree farmer, managing her family property in Franklin, Alabama. She was a Master Forester, a member of the Alabama Forestry Association and served on the Monroe County Forestry Planning Committee. Her land was designated Certified TREASURE Forest due to her extensive hands-on management. As part of the TREASURE Forest Programs, Virginia received the Helene Mosely Award for outstanding stewardship.

Virginia was an avid collector of antiques and taught Decorative Arts and Antiques at Faulkner Community College in Fairhope. She was a member of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the Mobile Power Squadron, Junior League of Mobile, Sirens, Maids of Mirth and the Montrose Garden Club. Virginia Hybart was presented by the Mobile Carnival Association in the 1948 Mardi Gras Court. Her two daughters reigned as Queens of Mobile Mardi Gras in 1971 and 1981. She was active in First Baptist Church of Mobile and for 25 years was the leader of “Happy Timers”, the senior community at First Baptist Church. Her interests included horseback riding, needlepoint and decoupage. She also enjoyed time on her houseboat, FINALLY, and served as a regional tour guide.

She was predeceased by her husband, William Buck Taylor, Jr., and is survived by her children, Virginia Hybart Taylor McLure (Tucker), Dr. William Buck Taylor III (Caroline), Charles Louis Hybart Taylor, Laurie Ebie Taylor Strauss (Berney), eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

A funeral service will be held Tuesday, April 30 at noon with visitation at 11:30 am at First Baptist Church of Mobile. Interment will follow at Magnolia Cemetery. There will be a remembrance celebration at the Mobile Mardi Gras Museum.