Gracie Deaver Taylor

Gracie Deaver Taylor, 87, of Elizabethtown passed away on Sunday, January 26, 2025, at her home. She was preceded in death by her parents, Willam Dexter and Polly Ann Deaver; husband, Charles Taylor; siblings: Ethel Deaver, Ernest Deaver, Norris Deaver, Ervin Deaver, Graham Deaver, Leta Bell Cain, Betty Lou Alford and Dorothy Daniel Barnes.

Gracie leaves behind her daughters: Linda Taylor, Lisa Allison and husband Tony; granddaughter, Hannah A. Loscalzo and husband Nick. She also leaves behind several special caregivers.

Gracie was born and raised in Bladen County. Her first paying job was at 11 years old working on a neighbor’s tobacco farm where she earned $4.00 per day, but only when she was not needed on her own family’s farm. She lived and worked in Altanta, GA for a brief period after graduation from Bladenboro High School in 1955. She met her soon-to-be husband, Charles Taylor, at the hospital that same year, where both of their mothers were being treated at the time. They married only 3 short months later, on February 12, 1956, and made Bladen County their home. Gracie initially worked as a seamstress and supervisor at the Elizabethtown Sewing Factory for approximately 11 years. In 1968, they opened City Sandwich Shop and Restaurant, in Elizabethtown, which she, and many faithful employees, operated until 2009, with a little “help” from Charles. She was well known for her delicious home cooking and scratch made biscuits…some would say she made the best biscuits ever.

Gracie deeply loved her family and enjoyed spending time with them. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and friend. When her granddaughter, Hannah, was born in 1999, Gracie found a new purpose in her life. “Mema” became her new favorite name. She adored and lovingly helped care for Hannah every chance she got.

She was a devoted member of the Elizabethtown Baptist Church and a member of the Bladen County Chapter of Eastern Star.

The family will receive friends from 5-7 pm on Thursday, January 30th at Bladen-Gaskins Funeral Home in Elizabethtown. A funeral service will be held on Friday, January  31, 2025 at 2 pm at Elizabethtown Baptist Church in Elizabethtown with Dr. David Elks officiating. Burial will follow at the Wesley’s Chapel United Methodist Church Cemetery in Elizabethtown.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Elizabethtown Christian Academy or Lower Cape Fear LifeCare.