Onalee Davis, the only child of George Washington Davis and Bessie Lemon Davis, was born August 9, 1925.
She grew up in Columbia, SC on the corner of Green and Queen Streets in the house that was owned by her parents. On Thursday, October 7, 2021 God sent special Angels to lead the tired and weary but brave soul of Onalee Davis Taylor to ascend into eternal life.
On December 12, 1946, she was joined in Holy Matrimony to the late Samuel “Sam” Lee Taylor, and to this union one son and three daughters were born.
Onalee and Sam grew up in St. Mark Baptist Church where her mother sang on the Jubilee Choir. She participated in Bible School and the Missionary Society. She often opened her home to the missionary groups from Columbia Bible College so they could teach Christianity to the children in the neighborhood.
Onalee has been a vital part of St. Mark Baptist Church for over eighty years. Their children were raised in St. Mark as well, and participated in various auxiliaries and programs.
Onalee was educated in the Public Schools of Columbia and graduated from Booker T. Washington High School in the class of 1940. She attended Benedict College, majored in Elementary Education and graduated in 1943. After teaching for two years, she became the bookkeeper for Taylor Brothers, the business owned by her husband and his brother, Robert. The business was located in her house so she could be home with her children
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Taylor Brothers Construction was the only landscaping and trucking company [black or white] in the southeast for approximately fifteen years. The company dug most of the basements and foundations for the University of South Carolina and major businesses throughout Columbia, S. C. They were responsible the landscaping of the first shopping center in Columbia. Taylor Brothers eventually expanded to house moving for a short period.
Her hobbies include; caring for her garden, shopping, traveling and touring, watching stage plays and reading.
She was also active with the Benedict College Alumni Club #1.
Onalee will join her husband, Sam, and her son, Sam George Taylor, and her grandchildren: Nielle Martin, Dawn Lindsay and Christopher Lindsay in a Holy Reunion.
Left to cherish her memory are her loving daughters, Barbara Taylor Martin (Jack) of Columbia, SC, Donzetta Taylor Lindsay (Christopher) of Hopkins, SC and Christy Taylor Henry (Melvin) of Columbia, SC; six grandchildren: Leigh Taylor-Martin of Atlanta, GA, Shawn Lindsay of New Orleans, LA, Samuel Taylor of Hopkins, SC, Daniel Taylor of Hopkins, SC, Britanny Henry of Columbia, SC and Taylor Henry of Columbia, SC.; five great grandchildren: Levi Leonard of Atlanta, GA, Christon Lindsay of Columbia, SC, Christianna Lindsay of Columbia, SC, Kristinia Taylor of Hopkins, SC, Cameron Taylor of Hopkins, SC and a host of other special relatives and friends.
Sending heartfelt condolences to the family. May God Bless you all during this difficult time.
Annie Pearl Means
Rosalind Alford
Our Sincere condolences to the Taylor family, Barbara, Donzetta and Christy, may your memories with your mom be pleasant and happy. I admire the way you honored her and gave her flowers 🌸 while she could appreciate them. She was a humble, beautiful and classy lady.
Lovingly
Willie & Lucille B. Adams
I will miss Onalee. My heartfelt condolences go out to the family. Onalee was married to my great uncle, Samuel Taylor. I know the family history very well. I used to love going to their house in Hopkins during the summers and playing with my cousins. Onalee was a very warm and caring person. May God comfort the Taylor family during their bereavement. She’s in Gods hands now.
My Condolences And Prayers To The Family Love You All Shirley Jones Crook❤️
My condolences to the Taylor family. Please know that you are in my thoughts and prayers 🙏
Our heartfelt condolences to the Taylor family, Barbara, Donzetta and family we will continue praying for you. Keep looking to the Hills.
I am saddened to hear about you mother, Mrs. Onalee Davis Taylor’s passing. My condolences.
Prayers and condolences to the family. Aunt Onalee will be missed. I enjoyed those days hanging out with her in the yard in Hopkins.
Love You
Rest In Peace
To the entire Taylor Family,
I send my deepest condolences. Remember the love, laughter, joy, and fellowship. I send my love to you all.
Sincerely,
To Barbara, Donzetta, and Christy,
Sending our sincere condolences on the loss of your mother. We pray that you all will always feel her presence in your heart and soul for she will always be watching over you up from heaven.
Your mother was one of the nicest persons ever. I can remember as neighbors, many days that Joe Jr, Kathy, L’Tanya and myself would visit. Mrs. Taylor was always kind and smiling. She was truly a wonderful woman and we will always remember how amazing she was.
We’re praying to God to give you each strength and comfort. Stay strong while mourning for your beloved mother. May God let your mother rest among the angels.
Dorothy, Angela, and L’Tanya Brown
We offer our condolences to the family as we mourn the loss of “Miss Onalee” and celebrate her amazing life. May God cover each of you in his matchless peace.
Such a kind and beautiful person – inside and out…
Someone as special as a mother is never gone from this world. May you still see her smile in your mirror and hear her voice singing in your heart.
My deepest condolences to the Taylor Family.
To the family. Mrs. Onalee Taylor was such a sweet person.Mrs. Onalee will truly be missed from attending the Health and Wellness Class. My condolences and prayers are with y’all .🙏🏽
Our thoughts and prayers are with you all in your time of sorrow. May God give you strength now and in the days ahead.
Thoughts and prayers to the Taylor family in the passing of my beloved Mrs Taylor. She was my inspiration, confidant, loving and caring friend. I often called her Mama because she became a special person who truly expressed and lived in a loving way. I will truly miss her. Mrs Sheila McLamore Grant (Hairstylist for 30 years)
I Vanessa Pryor.. As a tenant of Ms. Onalee Taylor I have never known anyone as kind and warm hearted in my time being spent in Cola. S.C.. I have lived on her property for 16 years. From September 2005 and still reside same place… It was nice getting to know her and her family. Very nice and adorable people. May she rest in peace 🕊️
I extend condolences to the family. Death is very hard to accept when a loved one leaves us. I pray that God comforts you in your time of grieving🙏🏽!
My deepest heartfelt condolences to the Taylor family. Onalee was an amazing woman and she will truly be missed. She was a true inspiration to everyone around her, kind words of wisdom, great smile, and a loving person. God has called one of his most beloved children back home. Words cannot heal the pain of losing someone so dear. May the Good Lord give you strength through this most difficult time. Our prayers and blessing are with you. This World was blessed by your Mother’s presence and we will forever be grateful that we had the chance to know her.
To the Family of Mrs. Onalee D. Taylor:
As I reflect on the life -living of an amazing lady of the Waverly Community, I’m reminded of my two Aunts; Laverne K. Neal & Irma K.Bellinger who were contemporaries of Mrs. Taylor in the community & at the historic Booker T. Washington High School.
Ironically, I was thinking of Mrs. Taylor this week as we had planned an interview with her as a representative of the reunion class of 1940, during summer of 2020. We did not get it done, but we sponsored her & several of her classmates by Zoom, which is now permanently documented.
Mrs. Taylor looked fashionably elegant then in her cap & gown & even now as she has transitioned to her eternal rest after 96 glorious years on this earthly sojourn.
To Barbara, Donzetta, Christy & your off -springs,- you were so blessed to have had your Mother to Love, Honor & Cherish for what seemed like an “eternity” here on earth. May His blessings continue to be with each of you throughout this period. and beyond.
“Thy sons & daughters shall forever shine. – Praise songs have rung for a loyal Washingtonian,” class of 1940.
What a beautiful person she was.The entire family was someone I was glad to know.
My heartfelt condolences are extended to the family of Mrs. Taylor. She was a warm and welcoming person who made me feel comfortable talking to her. May her family find comfort in the loving memories they shared during this difficult time.
Pastor Sammy and Mary Wade would like to express our heartfelt condolences to the family of the Late Onalee D. Taylor who transition from this earth to be with the Lord she served while she walked this earth during her life longevity. What a blessing to live to age 96 and was active doing things she loved. I will remember Ms. Taylor when she would come to St. John Baptist Church’s Friday exercise. When I found out her age I gave God praises for longevity and she was able to used he limbs to praise the Lord. Ms. Taylor will truly be missed from our group on Fridays. The family and those who lives she touched while on this earth can find comfort in knowing we were a special part of a well-lived life. Ms. Taylor take your rest. Family hold on to her memories and share them with the generation to come. Memories are the legacy of love. Live your mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, auntie live legacy and God will grant you longevity. The Taylor Family will be in Pastor Wade and my prayers and thoughts. Trust God in all things. God will give the family peace and restore the family joy on her transition.
Condolences to the family! Cousin Onalee will truly be missed!❤⚘🙏🏽
Condolence to the Family, keep the Memories in yours heart
My condolences to your family praying for your strength
I was so very sorry to hear about your dear mother’s passing. I remember she always had a smile. Although it was many, many years ago, my warmest memories are the morning rides with Barbara to high school, BTW ’65. While I know it is painful to say goodbye, it was a blessing to have her in your life for so many years. The loss of a parent is like losing part of yourself. May your many years of memories bring you some comfort in the days ahead. I will keep you in my prayers.
My sincere condolences are extended to the family and many friends whose lives were touched by this wonderful lady. I met Mrs. Taylor when I was a student at Waverly Elementary School where my sister Mary and Barbara were classmates and friends. She was a kind, caring person who welcomed us into her home, I will always cherish the times spent in her presence in the neighborhood and as a part of the Booker T. Washington High School and Benedict College families. A life well spent! Children, thanks for sharing your mom with us. RIP my lovely lady.
My sincerest condolences to the Taylor, Martin, Lindsay and Henry families. Mrs. Taylor and my mother were the best of friends. They traveled together, attended birthday parties and family reunions, joined each other for lunch, and just enjoyed the company of each other. Their friendship goes back to the 1940s when they graduated from high school together. I remember Mrs. Taylor as a very warm, charming and friendly person who enjoyed life. The family has my prayers as I pray for comfort, strength and peace. God be with each of you!
I had the honor of growing up in St Mark Baptist church and watching this beautiful lady demonstrate how ladies should carry themselves. Mrs. Taylor had such a beautiful spirit and was very approachable by all including those of us who were kids. Such a warm beautiful spirit. May God comfort her family during their bereavement