Lillie “Darlene” L. Taylor

Lillie “Darlene” Taylor was born on January 12,1944 to the late Chalmous and Earsie Campbell in Sylvarena, Mississippi. The family later relocated to Joliet, Illinois. Lillie truly valued her education, she attended and graduated from Lockport High School. She went on to pursue her dreams of going to college and graduated from Lewis University after the passing of her late husband Herbert Townsend. She continued to advance her education by later on receiving her Master’s degree from the University of Maryland. Before his passing, Lillie and Herbert had three children, Darla, Duane, and Carla. She later married Lewis Taylor, and the family relocated to Maryland. Lillie and Lewis then had a daughter Angela where Maryland became her new and final home. She will be remembered as an amazing mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend.  

Lillie’s faith was paramount to her, and she and her family became longstanding member’s of Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Washington D.C. She was an extremely dedicated member who unselfishly gave years of service to the church. Darlene was employed and retired from the federal government. She was also a loyal member of her church community’s Book Club. After her retirement, Lillie loved to be involved at church, being a part of her Bible Study Fellowship’s (BSF) weekly devotions, staying active at Senior Fit, or jogging around her neighborhood. Her most valued treasure of all to spend time with, was her family. Any reason to get the family together for a birthday dinner, Sunday family dinner after church, movie night, and yearly trips to the beach for 4th of July. We will all miss her famous Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner, her tea cookies, cakes, and pies. Lillie really loved reading books, traveling the world with her family, singing in the choir, working out, spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and capturing all of her favorite memories in a picture to print and frame to reminisce later. 

Lillie transitioned into eternity on May 24, 2025, where she reunited with her loving family. She leaves to cherish her memory; her children, Darla, Duane, Carla, and Angela; her grandchildren, Karmen, Pariss, Christopher, Montay, Tavon Jr. Alexis, Aiden, Alexandra, and Taylor; great-grandchildren, Justin Jr. and Jaxson; and other loving relatives. 

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