Elizabeth Taylor
Elizabeth Taylor, lovingly known to many as Ms. Libby, was born to Linda Taylor and Garland “Polk” Taylor on August 8, 1961.
She was the heartbeat of the porch and the voice that filled every room—bold, loud, and always saying exactly what she meant. She was a woman of truth, of talent, and of tough love—the kind that you felt in every meal she cooked, every word she spoke, and every sacrifice she made.
Born with the kind of soul you don’t forget, Ms. Libby was a daughter, a mother, a sister, an auntie, a friend, and a protector. She could light up any gathering with her presence—especially when her music came on. You didn’t have to ask Ms. Libby to dance or sing; she was already doing it. She lived out loud. Her joy was contagious. Her porch was the stage. And her love, though not always soft, was strong, steady, and deeply rooted in loyalty.
Her children were her pride, but her grandbabies? Oh, those were her heart. She loved them hard, defended them harder, and you couldn’t say a word about them without her setting the record straight. She gave her last to those she loved, and despite life’s many obstacles, Ms. Libby stood tall, unshaken, and true to herself. She wasn’t just the life of the party—she was the party. If you knew her, you knew that a call to Ms. Libby meant she was coming, no matter the hour. She was strength in motion, always holding it down for her siblings, always answering when her name was called. Though the porch won’t feel the same without her, her voice, her laughter, and her energy will echo through every song played, every meal shared, and every moment her family gathers in love.
Now free from the weight of this world, Ms. Libby has taken her rightful place among those who’ve gone before her—watching over her babies, protecting her people, and probably telling heaven just how it needs to be run. She joins those who’ve gone before her: Her father, Garland “Polk” Taylor, and sister Regina “Gee-Gee” Staton.
She leaves behind a family who carries her name forward with love and pride: Her mother, Linda Taylor; Son Wendell Brooks; daughters Keoshia Sims, Jaleia Parker; grandchildren Wendell Brooks Jr., Markese Brooks, Iryona Brooks, Ta’Mya Brooks, Terrance Hayden, Ta’Rhiya Hayden, Kjon Russel, and Luster Deloney; great-grandchild Khloe Hayden; her brothers Reginald Staton, Garland “Milk” Taylor, and Vernon Taylor; sister Felicia “Blackie” Hilt—Her Forever Lover Reese Turner, Great Friend Connie Sturdimire and a host of nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews and friends who all knew her as home.
Public viewing will be held from 2-6 p.m. on Friday, March 28, at John P. Franklin Funeral Home. A funeral service will begin at 10 a.m. on Saturday, March 29, in the funeral home chapel.