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Rosa Mae Sawyer Taylor of Southampton died on November 30, 2017, at Southampton Hospital. She was 77.
Ms. Taylor was born on April 21, 1940, in Camden, North Carolina, to Johnnie and Lillie Mae Trotman-Sawyer, both of whom predeceased her. She attended Marian Anderson School in North Carolina and moved to New York after graduation. She married Richard Taylor Jr. on January 22, 1960.
For many years she worked at the Bulova Watch Factory in Sag Harbor. Later she worked at Southampton Hospital as a nursing assistant and remained there until retiring after more than 30 years of service. Survivors said she loved people and was passionate about displaying her love and kindness to others. She was an avid shopper and that was reflected in her style, they said.
During her adolescent years, she was a member of the New Shiloh Baptist Church in North Carolina. She later transferred her membership to Community Baptist Church of Southampton, where she was a faithful and enthusiastic choir member. Her enthusiasm for serving the Lord through song led her to join the Johnson Singers, with whom she sang throughout the 1960s and 1970s; they eventually recorded their first song as an accomplished East End gospel group. She then became a member of First Baptist Church in Bridgehampton until she moved to Newark, Delaware, in retirement. While in Delaware, she joined the Bridge Church. After moving back to Southampton in December 2012, she reinstated her membership to Community Baptist Church.
In the 55-year marriage of Rosa and Richard, they had three children, all of whom survive, Welton Taylor of Southampton and Ricky Taylor and wife Andrea of Southampton, and Everlette Taylor of Southampton; five grandchildren, Aaron Taylor of Patchogue, Eboni Cowell of Brooklyn, William Reddick of Southampton, Madison Taylor of Southampton, and Faith Taylor of Southampton. She was one of 10 siblings, survived by Rev. William Sawyer and wife Martha, Ervin Sawyer and wife Gloria, Curtis Sawyer and wife Miyoshi, David Sawyer and wife Debra, Lillie Williams, Verneice Riddick and husband Jeffrey, Patricia Spencer and husband Roscoe, and Myra Sawyer, all of North Carolina, and Jeanette Williams and husband Calvin of New Jersey. She is also survived by two sisters-in-law, Erma Saunders and Rev. Shirley Saunders of Coram, and Evelyn Taylor; and a brother-in-law, Ernie Taylor of Coram; three aunts: Katherine Spellman of Virginia, Dorothy Sawyer of North Carolina, Mary Trafton of Southampton; and a host of nephews, nieces, relatives and friends. She was predeceased by in-laws, Julius Williams and John Henry.
Funeral arrangements were under the direction of Brockett Funeral Home in Southampton.
on Dec 8, 2017