Stella Hood Taylor

Obituary For Stella Hood Taylor

Mrs. Stella Hood Taylor, of Decatur, passed August 22, 2012.

Homegoing services for Mrs. Stella H. Taylor, of Decatur, will be Friday, August 31, 2012 at 11:00 AM at Central United Methodist Church, 501-7 Mitchell Street SW, Atlanta, Georgia 30314. Interment will follow at Kennedy Memorial Gardens.

Public viewing will be held Thursday, August 30, 2012 from 12 NOON 9:00 p.m. at Grissom-Clark Funeral Home, 227 East Lake Dr. (at Memorial Dr.), Atlanta, Georgia 30317, Office: 404-373-3191; Fax: 404-373-0292, www.grissom-clarkfh.com.

Mrs. Stella Hood-Taylor was born January 11, 1952 in Aliceville, Alabama, to the late Ms. Minnie Lee Hood and the late Mr. Earl Cusett. She was loved, nurtured and adored by her surrogate parents, the late Chalmers and Etta Wilder. Stella affectionately referred to Mrs. Wilder as "MA PEARL" who preceded her in death. She was united in holy matrimony on April 5, 1975 to Mr. Charles Taylor. To this union, two children were born, Eric and B'Nieka. She answered the call of her Heavenly Father on Wednesday, August 22, 2012. Stella completed her elementary and high school education in Aliceville, Alabama. Upon high school graduation in 1970, she moved to Atlanta, Georgia to attend her beloved Morris Brown College. At Morris Brown, she graduated with honors in 1974 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology. She later attended Troy State/Atlanta University where she obtained a Master of Public Administration. She also obtained certification in their Executive Program of the JFK School of Government at Harvard University. Stella believed that her calling was to serve others and she constantly sought new opportunities to answer that call through her employment and activities. She started her career with the DeKalb County Department of Human and Community Development and later was employed by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in the Office of Community Planning and Development until her death. Stella received Christ at an early age at the Franconia CME Church in Aliceville, Alabama. There she developed her love for the Lord, a love that sustained her throughout her life. In Atlanta, she united with Central United Methodist Church under the leadership of the Reverend Dr. Joseph Lowery where she remained a devoted and faithful servant for more than 30 years. At Central UMC, Stella was actively involved as a member of the Board of Directors and Administrative Board, Choral Ensemble and Mass choir, a visionary of the drama ministry Central Connection Players, a member of the Staff Parish Relations Committee and numerous other church committees. After graduating from Morris Brown College, Stella was actively involved as an alumnus. She served in the DeKalb Chapter MBC National Alumni Association as Secretary, 1998-2000, Morris Brown College Athletic Foundation and is the immediate Past-President of the MBC National Alumni Association. Stella was an untiring, avid and gifted supporter of Morris Brown College. She was in attendance and was recognized during the 110th Anniversary Alumni Awards Luncheon held on May 12, 2012. Beautiful memories of the life and loves of Stella will be cherished by her husband, Charles Taylor; son, Eric Taylor; daughter, Shonoda (Marcellus) Stafford; five grandchildren, Xavier, Marcellus Jr, Madison, Morgan and Meagan Stafford; one godson, Legend Lewis; one step-granddaughter; two sisters-in-law; six brothers-in-law; two uncles; two aunts; special friends, Paul and Phyllis Lewis, Sonja Hines and Georgia Stepney and a host of other relatives and friends.

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