Deniece Gillenwater Taylor, 79, my cherished mother and the center of my universe went home to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ on December 21, 2024, very peacefully and in my arms after a long and determined battle to fight dementia.  Mom was born in Norfolk, Virginia and very soon after moved and was raised in Northfork, West Virginia. As a young adult, she returned and remained in Virginia. She worked for Cochran Construction Comany for 27 years until their closing and then Heartland Hospice as well as PACE. She was a long-time member of Maranatha Baptist Chruch in Yorktown. She was preceded in death by her loving parents, Vernon C. Gillenwater Sr. and Mildred Gillenwater; her cherished brother, Vernon C. Gillenwater Jr., and just eight short months ago, her beloved husband of 40 years, Ronnie R. Taylor.  She is survived by her daughter and apple of her eye, Barbara "Chris" Mahady; her nephew that was like her own child, Vernon C. Gillenwater, III "Trey" (Christy); her stepchildren, Ronnie R. Taylor Jr., Lorie Call (Sandy); step granddaughter, Ashley Call and her very precious, spoiled rotten chihuahua of 9 years, Mimi. As per her request, in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Maranatha Baptist Church, 221 Hampton Hwy., Yorktown, Virginia 23693.

A graveside service only will be held on  Friday, December  27th,  2024 at Peninsula Memorial Park at 11:00AM.

I would like to personally recognize and give a heartfelt Thank You to the staff and especially Joan Davis of Heartland Hospice, as well as the staff and especially Jami Churchill and Cindy Hawkins of Northampton Nursing and Rehab of Hampton VA.

Arrangements by W. J. Smith & Son Funeral Home.

Arrangements by W. J. Smith & Son Funeral Home.