Bequest By Will

Donald and Betty Taylor
The gift of a lifetime
            During their lives, Donald and Betty Taylor were truly part of the backbone of this community.  They, and others like them, make America a great country.  They worked hard at their own small business.  They supported their church and community.  They were good neighbors.  For xx years, they lived quiet and good lives in Burke County. 
            Donald was born and raised in Burke County.  The son of the late J.Y. and Cornelia Denton Taylor, he was the owner and operator of Burke Radio and TV in Morganton…one of the first electronics stores in our county.  Betty Taylor was born in Alexander County, and she was the daughter of Clyde and Nola Watts.  For years she worked at Lazarus Department Store, volunteered for the American Red Cross and was a loyal member of the Morganton Woman’s Club.  Donald and Betty were members of First Baptist Church in Morganton.
            “Giving was always a part of their life,” a friend of the Taylors recalls.  “They lived simply and deeply cared for other people.”
            After Donald’s death in 2001, Betty decided to establish an endowment fund that would be funded through her will.  She wanted to leave this life knowing that the Taylor Endowment would provide funding to organizations and this community – all dear to the Taylors’ hearts.  She clearly wanted these organizations and communities to receive support from her family – forever.
            Through the largest gift ever received by the Community Foundation, their love of this community and western North Carolina is evident.  They have given a gift that will touch countless lives forever.  What a remarkable legacy.
            Betty decided to make an estate commitment to the Community Foundation to establish the Betty and Donald Taylor Endowment Fund.  Their endowment will forever benefit Burke and Alexander counties and specifically eight organizations: First Baptist Church - Morganton, the Burke County Chapter of the American Red Cross, Southmountain Children and Family Services, Alexander Senior Center, Caldwell Academy, Blue Ridge Community Action’s Adult Day Care, Three Forks Baptist Church in Alexander County and charitable projects of the Morganton Woman’s Club. 
            “This gift is a wonderful example of how generous people like the Taylors can support organizations they deeply care about beyond their lifetimes and forever,” said President John Branstrom.
            Mrs. Taylor used this gift to remember and honor some special people in their life.  The distributions to First Baptist Church are in memory of her husband, Donald Taylor, and his sister, Bertie Taylor.  She memorializes her parents, Claude M. and Nola Mae Watts, with every grants allocated from the Taylor Endowment Fund to the Alexander Senior Center.  Her gifts to Caldwell Academy are in honor of her niece, Helen Vaughn.
            During their lifetimes, Donald and Betty Taylor represented the best of America.  Through their endowment fund, their legacy will last forever.