Claudia O. Taylor, 81, active in Christian groups
April 17, 2025
Claudia O’Hearn Taylor of Pawleys Island and Blowing Rock, N.C., died April 10 at her home in Litchfield Plantation surrounded by family and friends. She was 81.
She was born Jan. 20, 1944, in Dayton, Ohio, the daughter of Richard Glidden and Doris Blanchard O’Hearn. Her family soon moved back to her mother’s hometown of Augusta, Ga., where Claudia spent most of her childhood living on Magnolia Lane near Augusta National Golf Club. She graduated from Richmond Academy High School in 1962 and attended Augusta College until 1964. She transferred to the University of Georgia in Athens, graduating in 1966 with a degree in education.
She married George D. Taylor (husband for nearly 53 years) of North Augusta, who soon took a job with the DuPont Corporation, and they spent the next seven years in Chattanooga, Tenn. In 1973, they moved to Hilton Head, where Mr. Taylor worked for Sea Pines Real Estate Development. Mrs. Taylor became a Christian around 1974 and joined a great group in the local Christian Women’s Club. As her faith grew so did her husband George’s real estate business and they relocated to Charleston in 1975.
The family moved again in 1978 to Myrtle Beach, when Mr. Taylor took a job with Leonard Call and Associates. During this time, Mrs. Taylor was focused on raising her children and developing the new Myrtle Beach Christian Womens Club, emerging as one of its new leaders. The couple joined Faith Presbyterian Church where Mrs. Taylor taught biblical classes including Precept Upon Precept and Bible Study Fellowship serving as a teaching leader in Myrtle Beach with her good friend Mary Ann Bishop.
In 1990, the family moved to DeBordieu. Mrs. Taylor’s work continued, primarily with different Christian groups, serving the lord and helping others in various capacities in and around the community until her recent diagnosis and passing.
The family had a second residence in Blowing Rock from 2010 until 2023 and spent time between there and Pawleys Island until Mr. Taylor’s death in 2019.
Mrs. Taylor built her home in Litchfield Plantation after the pandemic.
In her final days, she would share with family and friends some of her favorite scripture including Psalm 46:10, “Cease striving and know that I am God.” Her life and legacy will be an example of serving the Lord and true obedience in sharing the gospel message of Jesus Christ, her family said.
She is survived by her children, Todd Taylor (Christa) of Hendersonville, N.C., Chris Taylor (Emily) of Pawleys Island and Leigh Taylor Smith (Topher) of Boone, N.C,; her grandchildren, Holden Taylor, Henry Taylor, Anne Rawlins Hamilton and Nathan Hamilton; her sister, Betty Jane O. McCleneghan (J. Sean) of Martinez, Ga.; and nearly 30 cousins from Georgia.
A celebration of her life will be held April 22 at 2 p.m. at the Pawleys Island Community Church. A reception will follow.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Post Residency Program, Samaritan’s Purse, P.O. Box 3000, Boone, NC 28607.
