Mrs. Elma Kate (Harris) Taylor was born on January 30, 1936, in Anson County NC, daughter of the late Hillard Harris and Roxanna Harris Ratliff. She departed this life on July 16, 2025, at her residence surrounded by her loving and devoted family.

Elma joined New Grove Missionary Baptist Church, Polkton NC at an early age. She served on many ministries and held many positions in NGMBC, including usher board, church clerk, Sunday school teacher, deaconess, missionary president, and choir of NGMBC of Anson County NC. She was also the 3rd Vice president of the Women’s Home & Foreign Mission of ZA under Moderator Leak. She attended Ansonville School part-time but went on to earn her GED at age 52 from South Piedmont Community College with the help of her grandson, James. She also worked as a teacher’s assistant at West Deep Creek School.

Elma worked for years at Armor Poultry Plant in Marshville NC, until she decided to move on. She retired from Anson County Hospital where she worked in housekeeping. She enjoyed it because it allowed her to meet, greet, and serve many individuals, whose lives Elma touched with her words of encouragement.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Hillard and Roxanna; children, Lucy Ann, Walter David, and Clarence William Taylor; siblings, George Ratliff and Betty McDowan.

She leaves to cherish her memory her loving husband, Clarence of the home; one daughter, Katie (Kenneth) of Wadesboro NC, two sons, Calvin (Linda) of Indian Trail NC, James of Albuquerque NM, and one daughter-in-law, Barbara Taylor; fifteen grandchildren: Derek (Vickie) of Wadesboro NC, James (Ebony) of Wadesboro NC, Calvin (Nefertia) of Wadesboro NC, Kenneth (India) of Piscataway, NJ, Michaela of Durham NC, Derek (Sharitie) of Wadesboro NC, Terrance (Marquita) of Wadesboro NC, Tameka and Zondra of Charlotte, NC, Clarence (Karen) of Monroe NC, Ebony and Tichina of Charlotte, Timothy of Morven NC, Jemeshia of Rockingham NC, and Shuntae of Albuquerque NM; 24 great grandchildren and 11 great-great grandchildren; one sister, Hazel Tillman of Charlotte, NC; two sisters-in-law, Mary T. Wilcox of Wadesboro NC, and Pauline Willoughby Ratliff of Wadesboro NC; two special cousins, Gloria Jean Woodard and Diane Watkins of Norwood, NC; a host of nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

The Homegoing Service will be on Saturday, July 26, 2025, 1:00 pm, New Grove Missionary Baptist Church, Polkton, North Carolina. Interment will follow in the family plot of the Church Cemetery.