Mrs. Mary Jane Liesfeld Taylor

Mrs. Mary Jane Liesfeld Taylor, age 61 of Stuart, passed away Sunday, January 13, 2013 at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem, North Carolina due to complications of ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease. She was born in Richmond on July 30, 1951 to the late Charles Phillip Liesfeld, Sr. and Elnora Virginia Bussard Liesfeld. In addition to her parents, Mrs. Taylor was preceded in death by a brother, W. Carey Liesfeld.

She was a parishioner at the Church of the Risen Lord, and had retired from the Patrick County school system with 34 years of service. She was a sponsor of the Senior Beta Club at Patrick County High School for over 20 years and had chaperoned many students at conventions throughout Virginia and the US. Upon her retirement, a scholarship for Beta students was established in her honor. After retirement, she was an ABE/GED Mathematics teacher for the Patrick County Adult Learning Center and had taught at Patrick Henry Community College in Stuart. She was a member of the Retired Teachers Association and Delta Kappa Gamma serving as President from 2008 to 2010. She was also involved with the Prayer Shawl Ministry for Hospice and was on the Town of Stuart Planning Commission. She was a member of the Crafter's Guild and attended Color Pencil Art Workshops where she had won a merit award from the Jeb Stuart Art Show in 2012. She loved to knit and crochet and shared her talents with many in the community. She was an avid reader and co-founded a local book club that has read over 45 books since 2009. She enjoyed traveling, playing scrabble, bridge and golf, and also enjoyed her garden and flowers every summer.

Mrs. Taylor is survived her husband, Barry D. Taylor of the home; one son, John Phillip Taylor and wife, Nicole, of Richmond; one daughter, Sarah Taylor Brown and husband, Jonathan, of Warm Springs; and three brothers, Charles P. Liesfeld, II, Lawrence H. Liesfeld and R. Michael Liesfeld, all of Richmond.

A Mass of Christian Burial was held Wednesday, January 16, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. at the Church of the Risen Lord with Rev. Emmanuel T. de Leon SVD officiating. Pallbearers were Will Anderson, Tom Arroyo, Larry Belcher, Greg Feron, Jerry Johnson, Charles P. Liesfeld III, Tom Merot, and Mary Sue Terry. Honorary Pallbearers include Jim Kessee, Ralph Kramer, Juan José Manzono, Beulah Watkins, and Ray Weiland.

Burial followed in Patrick Memorial Gardens. A luncheon was held at the Reynolds Homestead following the burial, provided by the Retired Teachers Association.

The family received friends Tuesday evening from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Moody Funeral Home in Stuart, and at other times at the home.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Church of the Risen Lord, c/o Greg Feron, 112 Sunset Drive, Stuart, Virginia 24171 or to the Patrick County High School Beta Club Mary Jane Taylor Memorial Scholarship Fund, c/o Patrick County High School, 215 Cougar Lane, Stuart, Virginia 24171. Online condolences may be sent by visiting www.moodyfuneralservices.com

Mass of Christian Burial Wed. Jan. 16, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. at the Church of the Risen Lord
Burial in Patrick Memorial Gardens
Visitation Tuesday 6 - 8 at Moody Funeral Home in Stuart