Gracey Elales Taylor

II Timothy 4:6-8  "For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness which the Lord, the righteous judge shall give me at that day; and not to me only, but to all them also that love His appearing".

Gracey Elales Campbell was born to the late Mr. James Roscoe Campbell and the late Mrs. Manthia Gerald Campbell on May 8, 1945 in Orrum, NC.  She passed away at UNC Health Southeastern in Lumberton, North Carolina on Sunday July 30,2023 after a short illness with her children at her bedside.  

Gracey received her early education in the county system, graduating from Proctorville High School in Proctorville, North Carolina. Gracey had a thirst for knowledge early in life and under the spiritual guidance of the Antioch Baptist Church she confessed Christ as her Lord and Savior at an early age.  While a member of Antioch she was very active.  She held positions in several choirs being the director of the Mass Choir for years.  She loved working with the children's ministry. She held the position of Church Secretary for many years up until her passing.   

Gracey married her high school sweetheart, Lee Versia Taylor on September 2, 1966 and they were the proud parents of five daughters.  Taylor was military so Gracey and the family got to "Travel all over the world" as she would say.  They were fortunate to see many sights and wonders in Europe as well as in the USA. During their deployed time two of the children were born in Germany. While stationed at Ft. Lee, Virginia Gracey was employed at BB & T Bank and because of her pure beauty and smile she was chosen to have her picture featured on the BB & T Bank advertising billboard.  These advertising billboards were located all up and down the interstate.   While in North Carolina, Taylor was outposted at Fort Bragg now renamed Ft. Liberty she was the secretary for Sandy Grove Baptist Church, and also was employed at Knuckles Elementary School as Secretary for years, she was a Bank Teller at Lumbee Bank in the Lumberton and Pembroke Branches, and also, she worked as a Surgical Tech at UNC Health Southeastern and medical technician at Southeastern Gastroenterology in Lumberton, NC. 

Upon returning to the USA for good and Lee's retirement she said I'm going back to school".  She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice and Sociology from the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. She further studies at Webster University of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina and earned her Master Of Arts with a focus in Marriage & Family Counseling. Her civic involvement included member of the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority. INC of Lumberton, and a former member and Worthy Matron of the Order of Eastern Star of Fairmont, and a former Order of SALEM Member.   She was fortunate enough the hold several positions in counseling in Lumberton; she worked at New Life Behavior Services as a case manager for several years also Southeastern Behavior Health Care Center as a Case Manager, and her final employment before retiring was as an Instructor at Robeson Community College in Lumberton, N.C.   The students and staff had a favorite name for her, “Miss Gracey”.

Gracey was a person who would strive for the best and to be the best she could be. This was her legacy. She taught her family to love one another and to help pull each other up and not trod on anyone. She taught her grandchildren to be, first of all educated, resourceful, responsible and respectful.  Although her hourglass ran out before she finished what she started she had drilled enough in their lives to lay a strong foundation for all of them to follow. She was a wonderful mother and faithful grandmother. She was a devoted and loving sister and a friend to many. Countless people were drawn to her because of her spirit of love, kindness, and generosity. Her favorite de-stressing leisure time was “working” on the computer.

Gracey was preceded in death by her devoted husband, Lee T Taylor, her parents Roscoe and Manthia Campbell, her Mother-In-Law, Elizabeth Taylor, two sisters; Gertrude Campbell, and Ruth Helen Campbell, four brothers: Andrew, Bill (John), Landy Bruce and Hicks Campbell.

Left with a broken heart and many loving memories are her 5 daughters; Felicia Taylor-Hairston (Zachary)of Norfolk,VA; Angela Taylor of Raleigh, NC; Lee Monique Taylor, Terri Taylor, and Shacarra Taylor all the home. Her eleven grandchildren; Ryan, Kyndal, Jingi, James III, Lee Versia, Austin, Collen, Kadijah, Diamond, Diamonte’ and Rockem; Sixteen Great grands; Her sisters Peggy Margaret (George) Lesane, Evangeline Strickland (Roosevelt), Manthia Theon Thompson, Judy Lewis, Patricia Campbell, Veronica Bristow and Brenda Wallace. Four brothers; Gwyn Campbell, James Campbell (Ann) Cleveland Bethea and Francis Campbell (BayBay).; sister-in-law Martha McCormick, a host of nieces and nephews and other relatives and friends.

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