Glenda J. Taylor

August 22, 1940 – February 9, 2023

Glenda Joyce Taylor, age 82, passed away on February 9, 2023.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Larry Taylor; father, Herman W. Odom, Sr., and mother Violet Odom; son David Taylor; and grandson Justin Taylor. She is survived by her brothers, Joseph Odom, of Tyler, TX; Herman W. (Wes) Odom, Jr. (Dottee), of Saratoga Springs, UT; and James Odom (Nancy) of Murrieta, CA; daughters, Laurie Taylor, of Cantonment, FL; Tammy Price; of Pensacola, FL; Karen Bambas (K.J.), of Lebanon, TN; and Shelley Taylor, of Lebanon, TN; daughter-in-law, Valerie Taylor Leffel; sons, Randy Taylor (Jules), of Oklahoma City, OK; and Keith Taylor (Dixie), of Hoschton, GA; as well as 16 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.

She was born in San Diego, California, on August 22, 1940. Her father was in the US Navy during World War II, and he was stationed in several U.S. cities before his retirement, when the family returned to her parents’ hometown of Pensacola, FL. A few months after her graduation from Pensacola High School, she met and fell in love with Larry Taylor, a Navy flight school officer stationed at NAS Pensacola. After 11 years of Navy service, they also moved their family back to Pensacola, where they lived for more than 50 years. For the last four years of her life, Glenda lived with her daughter and family in Lebanon, TN.

During the first 32 years of her married life, she worked hard being a stay-at-home mom, lovingly raising seven children. At age 50, after most of her children had grown up and moved away from home, she decided to go to college for the first time. She attended the University of West Florida, where she was an honors student and earned a bachelor’s degree in English with a certification in secondary education. She was a high school English teacher for many years. Anyone who knew her well could attest that her best pet peeves were bad grammar and misspelled words, and she didn’t allow it in her children, students, or anyone else!

Glenda was an accomplished musician and loved studying, performing, and teaching music more than almost anything else. She had a beautiful alto singing voice, and she was a gifted pianist. She gathered her family around the piano often while she accompanied them and sang with them, and she loved teaching piano to her own children, grandchildren, and hundreds of other children and adults through her many years of life. She not only taught them the techniques of reading music and playing the piano, but also instilled a deep appreciation of music in them. She had a gift for encouragement and praise, and always expressed her faith in her students’ abilities to learn and grow. At church, many more were the beneficiaries of her gifts as she served throughout her life as children’s chorister, adult choir director and member, and church organist. Vocal soloists and groups felt more confident performing with her as their accompanist, and she loved being there for them.

A devoted member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, she loved studying and teaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ. In addition to her musical callings, she taught numerous age groups and held many leadership positions. She had a firm and deep testimony of Jesus Christ, which she shared often, and she served quietly and often anonymously wherever a helping hand was needed.

As much as she loved education, music, and church service, nothing took priority in her heart over her family. She respected and loved her parents, and cared for their needs in their senior years; and she loved her three brothers. She had many friends, and she loved being with her large extended family of cousins, aunts and uncles. She was a faithful and supportive wife, and her children could not have asked for a mother who was a better cheerleader, teacher, nurse, schedule juggler, homework checker/proofreader, mediator, or all-around supporter. Her shoulder was broad for crying on; she was kind, gentle, generous, loving, and a peacemaker; and she always had a smile for anyone who needed one. She had a quick wit, and all who knew her were familiar with her easy sense of humor and infectious laugh. She laughed often, but she knew when to be serious and not take things too lightly as well. She was a light to the world, a shining example of all that is good.

Glenda’s family would like to express special thanks to the nurses and staff of Adoration Hospice (Madison, TN), especially her nurse Laura and aide Doris; and Senior Helpers of Nashville for the kind, professional, exceptional care they provided for Mrs. Taylor in her final days of life.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.EasternGateMemorial.com for the Taylor family.