Carolyn Taylor, a retired General Motors worker, died of an apparent heart attack Saturday at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center. She was 69 and lived in Northeast Baltimore.
Born Carolyn Daveta Pitts in Baltimore and raised in East Baltimore, she was a 1961 graduate of Dunbar High School, where she was class salutatorian. She attended the old Baltimore City Community College and studied nursing.
She worked as a home caregiver after high school. She then worked at the old Western Electric Co.'s Point Breeze Works. She retired from General Motors Corp., where she worked on the Broening Highway assembly line.
"As a young woman, Carolyn dedicated much of her time, money and energy to helping her younger brothers and sisters," said her sister, Naon Harris of Baltimore. "She made clothes for her younger sisters, gave birthday parties, helped them with their studies. She was adored and respected by all 11 of her siblings. Her advice was always sought and her opinions highly regarded."
Family members said Mrs. Taylor enjoyed domestic pursuits. She gave her time to raising her children. She also loved cooking, soap operas, doing puzzles, attending family outings, sewing and occasionally playing pinochle. They said she delighted in listening to — and sharing — her extensive music collection.
"Carolyn was well-read and could converse on just about any subject," her sister said. "She was innovative and intelligent. She could fill any void with her laughter and teasing."
Services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at Trinity African Methodist Episcopal Church, 2140 E. Hoffman St., where she was a member.
In addition to her sister, survivors include two sons, Raynor Taylor Jr. and Mark Taylor, both of Baltimore; two daughters, Stacey Taylor of Baltimore and Shari Taylor Dorsey of Bel Air; nine brothers, David Pitts, Richard Pitts, Rodney Pitts, Gary Pitts, Aaron Pitts and Nathan Pitts, a Baltimore Sun editorial assistant, all of Baltimore, James Pitts of Richmond, Va., and John Pitts and Gilbert Pitts, both of Las Vegas; another sister, Patricia A. Pitts-Franklin of Baltimore; and four grandchildren. Her husband of many years, Raynor Ralph Taylor Sr., died in 2004.