Billie Ruth Taylor, 86, born July 17, 1940, of Hamlet, went home to be with her Heavenly Father on Aug. 14, 2026, at Scotland Regional Hospice in Laurinburg.
Billie was the daughter of the late William and Nancy Long Craven of Rockingham.
Our mother was a hardworking woman who made sure she provided for her family. We used to have no running water. Mama would gather water from the creek for washing our clothes and baths. Mama didn’t drive until she was 45, our sister Michelle taught her how to drive. Her first car and one true love was Nellie Bell, a 1978 Nova. Before then, she paid people or rode with our oldest brother, Tony, to work.
She worked second shift, but our dinner was always on the stove when we got home from school. Our older brother, Tony, and older sister, Melissa, would take care of us while she worked.
She was a devoted life partner to Willie and stood faithfully beside him no matter where life would carry them — including to Ft. Sill as a young, fearless Army couple, ready to take on the world.
While times were not always easy, Billie had a special gift of making the best out of every situation. Whether it was turning a rainy day into mud pie production or whispering an innocent “truth” at a funeral (iykyk). Billie’s imagination, combined with her wit, will forever leave a void in our hearts.
Though she had turned 33 quite a few times, in Billie’s younger years, if she wasn’t working hard in the textile mills, you could find her at home investing all her time and energy in raising her children. Her love and dedication never ended, and she was always just one phone call away from making everything better.
Having never met a stranger, she would turn a five-minute grocery run into a three- hour social and adopt anyone needing a loving ear. Those who knew her best knew she would be most loyal to her tribe but only had one unspoken condition for relationships — she was going to give her advice, and you were going to hear it. We later learned only the wise didn’t just hear her advice but listened.
With all the uncertainties in this world, some things were always guaranteed at Grandma’s, like big hugs, listening ears, encouraging words, warm meals (with biscuits of course) and unrelenting support.
Thank you mama, for being our lifeline and best friend. Until we meet again, we will cherish the love and memories. It’s your time to rest, you have earned it. We love you and will miss you very much. We will forever be grateful for the memories and love she gave us.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Willie D. Taylor Jr.; daughters, Sandra Taylor and Melissa Blue; sisters, Catherine Rocker and Marjorie Craven; and granddaughter, Stacy Taylor.
She is survived by her children, Tony Taylor of Bennettsville, South Carolina, Willie Taylor of Georgia, Steve Taylor (Cynthia) of Hamlet, Michelle Miles (Ben) of Rockingham, and Pamela Bowersock of Hamlet; grandchildren, Angela Juett, Edward Taylor, Zabrina Gabriele, Johnathan Taylor, Eugene Gregory, Steve Taylor, Jr, Karrie Taylor, Megan Morrison, Shana Heavner, Taylor Bowersock and Nicki McDonald; great-grandchildren, Ashlee Hudson, Jacob and Issac Juett, Corey, Colton and Colin Taylor, Autumn and River Morrison, Walala, Robert Eugene Jr., Andy and Holley Gregory, Ivey Heavner, and Alexis and Caleb Gibson; great-great-grandchildren, Josie and Jake Hudson; numerous nephews, nieces, cousins and friends; and many other adopted children and grandchildren.
A visitation will be held on Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026, from 6-8 p.m., at Harrington Funeral Home in Hamlet.
The funeral service will be held on Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026, at 11 a.m., at Harrington Funeral Home, with the Rev. Dean Dixon officiating.
A private burial will be held with family at Northam Cemetery in Rockingham.
Memorials can be made to Gideons International at gideons.org.
Harrington Funeral Home & Crematory is serving the Taylor family.
Online condolences can be made at harringtonfuneralhome.com.
