Obituary for Elaine Colter Taylor

MRS. ELAINE COLTER TAYLOR, age 68, of Abbeville, Ga, died Thursday, November 5, 2026, in Phoebe Memorial Hospital, Albany, GA.

         A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 11:00AM Saturday, November 14, in Southerland Funeral Chapel with Rev. Chuck Taylor officiating with internment in Cadwell City Cemetery.

        Elaine was born in Dublin, GA on June 13, 1958, to the late Bennett Colter Sr. and Lois Whittle Colter. She grew up on her parents’ farm in the Cedar Grove community of Laurens County. She was a 1976 graduate of West Laurens High School before gaining employment at Chauncey Elementary School in the early 1980s as a teachers’ aide and as a school bus driver. Elaine later worked at Little Ocmulgee State Park as a lodge and cafeteria manager for many years. In 1995 she started working as a mail clerk at Wilcox State Prison before retiring after 28 years of employment with the State of Georgia. In 2001 she married her husband Johnny Taylor, and they enjoyed over 30 years together. Her hobbies were fishing, swimming, gardening, traveling, painting and playing board games. Elaine had mastered the digital game “Candy Crush” and had reached high levels and played it regularly. She enjoyed spending time taking care of her animals. Elaine was loved and will be forever remembered by her family and friends. She was preceded in death by her daughter Janie Nash, granddaughter, Ashley Williams, and brother, William “Benny” Colter, Jr.

      Elaine is survived by her husband - John Wesley “Johnny” Taylor, Jr. of Abbeville; Grandson- Taylor Williams of Smyma, Ga; Sister- Latan C. Johnson (Jason) of Uvalda; Brother- Edward Ray Colter (Debbie) of Wrightsville; Brother-in-law- Rev. Chuck Taylor of Abbeville; Faithful canine companion- Jethro; Several Cousins and Numerous Friends also survive.

            The family will receive friends in Southerland Funeral Chapel from 10:00AM-11:00AM Saturday, November 14, 2026. In lieu of flowers contributions can be made in Elaine’s memory to the Faithful Heart Animal Shelter, P.O. Box 5014, Eastman, GA 31023. Anyone wishing to contact the family can reach Johnny Taylor by phone at 229-457-5016.