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Delta State Mourns the Passing of 22-Year Employee Lyla Jean Jaudon Taylor, 87

By August 8, 2019Community, General

Former longtime Delta State University employee Lyla Jean Jaudon Taylor, 87, passed away peacefully on Thursday, Aug. 8, 2019, at Indywood Estate in Cleveland, Miss. Delta State will fly the school flag at half-staff on Saturday, Aug. 10, in memory of her.

She was born on Jan. 21, 1932, to Theron Curtis Jaudon and Sybil Leona Long Jaudon of the Hamilton community near Aberdeen. She attended Aberdeen High School and married Troyce Travis Taylor on Christmas day 1949. Their journey together included living in Shreveport, La., Hamilton, Cimarron, N.M., and Tupelo. They settled in Cleveland in 1972 and were both employed by Delta State.

She first worked as the post mistress of the DSU Post Office and then as assistant manager of the university bookstore. Before her retirement from DSU in 1996 after 22 years of employment, she was honored with the H. L. Nowell Outstanding Support Staff Award.

Taylor was a long-time member of St. Luke United Methodist Church, where she enjoyed working in the kitchen, helping to prepare and serve meals for church occasions and serving meals at the DSU Wesley Foundation. She also was a Lioness, the women’s support group of the Cleveland Lions Club. Taylor was a member of the Cleveland Garden Club and an active participant in water aerobics at DSU for many years.

She was preceded in death by her parents. She leaves to cherish her memory Troyce, her husband of 69 years; daughter, DK Baria, and her husband, Lance, of lnverness; granddaughter, Laura Henson, and her husband, Chase, of Tupelo; sister, Judy Virginia Jaudon Raburn, and her husband, Joe, of Broomfield, Colo.; Georgia Sanders and her husband, J.C., of Raymond; and three great grandsons, William Taylor Henson, Wesley Lance Henson, and Reed Chase Henson, along with several nieces and nephews.

The family will receive guests on Saturday, Aug. 10 from 1 PM until the 2 PM memorial service at St. Luke United Methodist Church in Cleveland.

The family would like to thank Director Paige Givens and the staff at Indywood Estate, Dr. Steven Clark, Hospice Nurse Marjorie Sappington, and Caregiver Jean Davenport.

Memorials may be made to St. Luke Methodist United Church, 1227 Deering St., Cleveland, MS 38732, or a charity of choice.