Elsie Lucille Roberts Taylor

Elsie Lucille Roberts Taylor, 92, of Natchitoches, died on July 21, 2020, at her home surrounded by family. Private graveside services were held in Provencal Cemetery on July 23, 2020, with Reverend Glen Howard, a childhood family friend, officiating. Mrs. Taylor was born on May 26, 1928, in Provencal, LA, to the late Rev. and Mrs. O. S. Roberts. She graduated from Belmont High School and attended Northwestern State University for two years as a music major. She married Ernest Taylor, and following his twenty-six-year career in the United States Air Force, they returned to reside in Natchitoches in 1971. She was an active member of Calvary Baptist Church in Natchitoches, where she taught the Joy Women’s Sunday school class for many years. These women became her dearest friends. For 42 years, she played the piano at Calvary for church services, choir specials, weddings, and funerals and also taught piano lessons. “Grandma” had the gift of hospitality. She was caring and generous with anything God blessed her with. She checked on people, especially those who were discouraged, exhausted, or ill, and loved to send cards, buying stamps by the roll. Her front door was always open, her house a gathering place for family and friends, and she loved nothing more than to relax, sit, and talk with visitors and give them hugs. She was a good listener and knew how to encourage and mentor anyone with a problem. She was known for her home cooking, especially chocolate rolls, meatloaf, chicken and dressing, and tomato hash. She always cooked extra portions and kept clean sheets on her guest bed for unexpected guests. She made sure no one who came to her house went away hungry or thirsty and everyone felt loved. Mrs. Taylor was a prayer warrior and never ate without bowing her head to pray and never went to bed without reading her Bible. She never left her house without a spritz of Estee Lauder Youth Dew, her signature perfume scent. She grew sunflowers, fed hummingbirds, and took in an orphaned kitten, Luna, four years ago. Her favorite holiday was Christmas. She loved decorating, cooking, and hosting a party for her Sunday school class. They exchanged gifts, shared recipes, laughed, and played games an entire day. Her grandchildren brought her great joy. She was never too busy to talk to them, pray with them, and speak words of encouragement. She led by example. They loved her, sat with her as she drew her last breath, and will miss her dearly. Thank you for being the best mom and grandma ever. We know that you are strolling heaven with Dad and that you would say to everyone who cheered you on to age 92, “Thanks for loving me.” Mrs. Taylor is preceded in death by her husband of 64 years, Ernest Taylor; parents, Ola Sparks Roberts and Reverend Oliver Silas Roberts; brothers, Roy Roberts, Ray Roberts, Thurman Roberts, and Truitt Roberts; and sisters, Patsy Roberts, Magdalene Polk, Vera Thompson, and Doris Bonnette. Mrs. Taylor is survived by one brother, Gerald Roberts and his wife Carolyn of Keithville; one sister, Marie Reimer of Lenexa, KS; two daughters, Susan Dianne Poe and her husband Dr. Allen Poe of Lee’s Summit, Missouri, and Patricia Ann Boswell of Jacksonville, Florida; and four grandchildren, Jonah, Abigail, and Anna Poe and Ian Boswell. The family would like to extend a special thank you to Pam Williams who started as a sitter and quickly became family over the past six years, Linda Peyton, Beverly Rachal, Sue Strickland, Michelle Halko, Larry Lacaze, Jean Wall, Melvin Mitchell, Ed Kaufman, Joseph “Jojo” Robinson, Chris Mayeaux of M & M Pharmacy, the ladies of the Joy Women’s Sunday school class and the children’s choir at Calvary Baptist Church, and the countless friends who made her day by sending cards. Thank you you, Rev. and Mrs. Glen Howard, for your weekly phone calls and visits; it meant the world to Mom, her sitters, and my family. For two brief days, Hospice of Natchitoches came in to assist us with Mom’s end of life challenges. Hannah, Misty, Kasey, and Bro. Buster, you were compassionate, caring, and there for us 24/7. Thank you for your lives of self-sacrifice and mercy. Philippians 1:3: “I thank my God upon every remembrance of you.” A special thank you to my son-in-law Allen Poe. Without you, I could not have remained in my own home and been so well taken care of. Your entire family saw that every need Ernest and I had was met daily. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Calvary Baptist children’s choir, your local church, or a Christian charity. Without the Lord, she could not have made it through these last few difficult years. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me (Philippians 4:13).