Frances Fern (Posey) Taylor, known as "Dutchie", in her adult years, passed away peacefully on November 12, 2017 at the age of 84.
Fern, as she was called by her kin, was born August 2, 1933 in Harperville, MS to Laura Belle (Hales) and Walter Lee Posey. The youngest of 10 children (2 brothers and 8 sisters), the family worked as sharecroppers on the Burnham family land in Scott County where they lived.
After a move to Jackson, MS in her teen years she met her future husband, Bill Taylor, while working as a ticket girl at the Lamar Theater downtown. Married in 1950, and together for over 60 years, they made new friends and found adventure wherever life took them. No one who met them ever forgot Bill's inquisitive meticulous exploring mind or her indomitable spirit, natural beauty, great cooking, cups of coffee shared, and, last but not least, her unforgettable personality.
During the child-rearing years they made homes in New Orleans, LA, Northport, AL, Jackson, MS and Clinton, MS. Dutchie was an active member of Alta Woods, Morrison Heights, and Wildwood Baptist churches during their early formative years. She had loyal customers as a hairdresser beginning at Kennington's Department Store and The Imperial Salon in Jackson, and later at Sassy Scissors in Clinton.
Survived by her daughter Toni (Roland) Wall and son Tim (Amy) Taylor and grandchildren Roe (Marie) Wall, Trevor (Crystal) Wall, her namesake Francie Wall McDonald, and Sara Taylor. Her great-grandchildren Averi, Brittan, and Codi Wall, and Emma and Drake McDonald, and her much-loved great-grandchildren who were a source of endless joy and laughter to her, Averi, Brittan, and Codi Wall, and Emma and Drake McDonald. She was told in her last days of yet another great-grandson arriving in May 2018 which made Meme smile.
A celebration of Dutchie's life will be held Monday November 20th at Wright and Ferguson Funeral Home in Clinton MS with visitation from 11:30-1:00. The service will begin at 1:00pm with graveside following at Briar Hill Baptist Church near Florence MS.
Shortly before her passing, and with her son Tim in attendance in Rome, a Mass was held at the Vatican honoring her by name, offering prayers for solace and the peace of God upon her.
The family would like to thank St. Dominics Hospital, Clinton Healthcare, Pax Hospice and Brother Kelty (Vatican) for the love, grace and care you gave to our mother and Meme. But special thanks goes to Rosie Wallace, our mother's "other sistuh"/comic-sidekick/caregiver. You won her respect - an honor she didn't bestow lightly!
In her memory, the family asks for NO flowers. (You might not get the kind or color she liked.) Don't light a puny candle in her honor. (Light the whole bonfire and hope you don't get burned!). She wouldn't want any memorial given out of guilt (that would just prove your guilt). We suggest you get or give a mani-ped in her honor at VIP Salon, treat a friend to Fox's Pizza, open a coffee shop ( in your house, but, in HER name), OR just go to Chico's. Tell them you are a friend of Frances (aka "Dutchie") Taylor and they will hook you up!