Lorraine Langley Taylor, a beloved mother, wife, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend, passed away peacefully at home on September 14, 2026, surrounded by the love of family and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband, Gene Taylor, and her devoted brothers. She leaves behind a family who loved her dearly: her children, Glenn, Chris, and Greg; daughter-in-law, Sheila; grandchildren, Andrew, Paul, Kyle, Collin, Connor, and Cameron; and great-grandchildren, Annistyn, Griffin, Tucker, Miller, Eloise, Landon, and Tatum.

Lorraine was born to Edgar and Ethel Langley in Harriman, Tennessee, during the Great Depression in 1936. The only girl among seven children, she learned early in life both the weight of hardship and the hope that comes from courage, faith, and a willingness to seek a better path. By the time she graduated from high school in 1954, she had lived through World War II and the Korean War, watching her father and older brothers leave to serve their country. Her own journey eventually carried her from her Tennessee roots to the FBI in Washington, D.C., where she met her future husband, Gene Taylor.

In Washington, D.C., Lorraine and Gene met people from around the world and found themselves close to moments that would become part of history. One memory stayed with them always: standing along Pennsylvania Avenue during President Kennedy’s funeral as the caisson passed by. Their friends Earl and Bea Thompson also became part of the lasting fabric of their lives.

Lorraine and Gene later moved to Maryland, continuing to build a loving home and a better life for their growing family. Lorraine balanced the joy and work of motherhood with service in local Annapolis schools. She was active in her church on Van Buren Street, where she and Gene led Sunday school classes and mentored midshipmen from the Naval Academy. Gene coached baseball, and Lorraine led Cub Scout dens, weaving their family into a community that became deeply dear to them. Her son Glenn later attended the U.S. Air Force Academy, carrying forward the family’s spirit of service. In Maryland, Lorraine formed many lifelong friendships, including Marge and Kermit White from church, neighbors such as the Gates, the Litzkys, and the Larchers, and Diane Recktenwald, who became the daughter Lorraine had always wanted. Diane remained a cherished part of Lorraine’s life to the very end, holding her hand and singing to her in her final moments.

Lorraine’s next chapter began when Gene accepted a better job in Georgia. They settled in Marietta and, as they had everywhere they lived, quickly found their place in the community. Lorraine played tennis for years, took up bridge, and, once her children were grown, returned to college at Kennesaw State University alongside her son Chris. She later worked for several companies, earning roles of increasing responsibility, and also earned her real estate license part time. In Georgia, too, she gathered dear friends around her, including Royce and Pat Chandler, Frank and Judy Sheiber, and many friends from the real estate community, among them Mary, Kay, Gina, Sally, and Davida.

Though Marietta was a good home, Lorraine and Gene felt a lifelong pull toward the mountains that reminded them of their Tennessee roots. As retirement drew near, they found that sense of home in Ball Ground, Georgia, where their front porch opened to the beauty of the north Georgia mountains. They quickly made new friends and found meaningful ways to serve. Gene passed away not long after the move, but he treasured the mountain view that called him back to his youth. Lorraine continued to pour herself into the community, organizing bridge and book clubs and becoming a benefactor of the local library. As active members of the United Methodist Church, she and Gene formed close friendships with their pastor, Ash, and Audra Ewing; community leaders Marshall and Kathy Day and Jennifer Poole; and many others. Neighbors Nina and Ray Sylvester were always ready to help, and a lasting circle of friends from the Bradshaw Farms area in Hickory Flat grew through bridge and other community activities.

Lorraine later moved to Hickory Flat, just minutes from her son Chris. She remained active in bridge and reading, staying involved in the clubs and friendships that brought her joy well into her 80s. She especially cherished time with family at Lake Martin in Alabama, where traditions such as Christmas in July became treasured memories.

Lorraine loved holidays and the chance they gave her to bring people together. Christmas was always festive, filled with decorations, food, laughter, and love. She often joked that her birthday was really a birth month, turning all of October into a celebration. Her love for her children was constant and deep: Chris became an entrepreneur and restaurant owner, Glenn a soldier and businessman, and Greg a devoted caregiver who always made his mother his top priority.

Lorraine valued education deeply. A straight-A student, she believed learning should continue throughout a person’s life. She enjoyed bridge, game shows, live theater, travel, and reading, and often reminded others that no one could take away two things: your reputation and your education. Her compassion reached beyond her own family. She was a passionate advocate for people living with mental illness, often supporting the Georgia Association for the Mentally Ill, now NAMI Georgia, and she was also a major supporter of Planned Parenthood. One of her favorite verses was Proverbs 17:22: “A cheerful heart is good medicine.”

In her final years, Lorraine faced declining health with the same determination, grace, and strength that had carried her throughout her life. Her son Greg took on many responsibilities, faithfully present for whatever she needed, whenever she needed it. Lorraine also welcomed caregivers who became more like friends and family than workers. Julie, Avery, Lorie, and Debbie each played a vital role, lifting her spirits and surrounding her with care and love. As Lorraine slipped the bonds of this world, Julie, Lorrie, Diane, and Chris were by her side as she entered God’s Kingdom and was reunited with her lifelong love, Gene.

Lorraine will be deeply missed by her family, friends, and all who were blessed to know her. As she joins Gene in heaven, her life seems to echo the words of 2 Timothy 4:7: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have kept the faith.”

A Memorial Service honoring and celebrating Lorraine's life will be held at 2:00pm on Friday, September 18, 2026, in the Chapel of Darby Funeral Home. The family will receive friends for visitation from 1:00pm until the funeral hour. 

The caring staff of Darby Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of Ms. Lorriane Langley Taylor.