Mary "Ernestine" Hall Taylor

Lillington- In the early morning hours of June 9, 2023, Ernestine Hall Taylor passed away peacefully at Emerald Health and Rehab Center in Lillington, North Carolina where she had lived for over 10 years. Her passing was related to Parkinson’s Disease and natural causes. Ernestine was 91 years old.

Ernestine was born October 6, 1931 to Ernest Kearney Hall and Dora Lewis Hall in Petersburg, Virginia where she grew up prior to moving to Lexington, Kentucky and attending Asbury College. She achieved a double bachelors degree in English and Spanish.

In addition to being the wife of a Methodist preacher and raising four children, she taught school. She particularly enjoyed working with the special needs children. For a few years, she worked as a librarian. She was gifted in playing the organ and piano and taught piano for many years. She was a devoted mother and loved all of God’s creatures, dogs, cats, and birds. Her love for the animals was known to all who met her.

Ernestine is preceded in death by James Braxton Speight, father of her 4 children in 1990 and by Julius Taylor in 2012. She is survived by her four children, James Braxton Speight, Jr. of Fayetteville, NC, Janice Leigh Debo of Redmond, Oregon, Jerry Robert Speight of Sanford, NC and Judith Louise Gillikin of Fayetteville, NC. In addition to her children, she is also survived by 2 grandsons Joseph Speight with wife Dr. Emily Speight and Steven Braxton Speight with his caregiver, Tamara Clark-Harris, and granddaughter Samantha Leigh Gillikin. She is survived by nephews Dr. C. Kearney Barton and Robert H. Barton and niece Liz Wilson.

No service is planned however you may make donations in honor of Ernestine Hall Taylor to The Parkinson’s Organization or Asbury College in Wilmore, Kentucky.