Ethel B. Taylor, daughter of the late John Henry and Luella Scurry Pinkney, was born October 13, 1927, in Newberry, South Carolina. She was the tenth of twelve children. She quietly departed this life on Tuesday, September 2, 2003 at the Prince Georges Hospital Center in Cheverly, Maryland.

She accepted Jesus Christ at an early age and joined the Little River Baptist Church, Silverstreet, South Carolina, where she served faithfully until moving to Washington, D.C. She attended Drayton Street High School in Newberry. She was also a chartered member of the first undergraduate chapter of the National Beauty Culturalist's League, Inc. as recording secretary. She also served as an energetic member of the Urban League, Inc. for many years. Ethel was married to the late Ecclesiastes Taylor.

In 1950 she joined the Friendship Baptist Church Washington, D.C. under the leadership of the late Rev. Benjamin H Whiting.

She was employed until her retirement at the Architect of the Capitol, on capitol hill. She loved nature and was a true anthophile enjoying the area's offering of flowers and other beautiful plants. She was known for planting beautiful flower arrangements along her block on Longfellow Street, N.W., for many years until her health began to fail. She received many accolades including from the former mayor of Washington, D.C., Mayor Marion Berry. Her flower displays became so large until her apartment management company allocated a budget for her volunteer work.

She loved and appreciated music and enjoyed listening to her favorite songs and melodies continuously day and night in her later years.

Ethel will be greatly missed and leaves to cherish her memory, one sister Nancy Yates-Smith; two brothers-in-law James Smith and Jimmy Oder of Washington, D.C., one sister-in-law Gertrude Pinkney of Ewing, New Jersey; and a host nieces, nephews, other relatives, and special friends.

Memorial services were held on Monday, September 8, 2003 at 11 a.m. at Friendship Baptist Church, officiated by Senior Interim Pastor, Dr. Chester A. McDonald, Sr. and under the funeral arrangements of Tyrone Young Funeral Service, Washington, D.C. The family received friends from 10:30 a.m. until the time of services.