Obituary: ETHEL AVERA CAROLINE TAYLOR
ETHEL CAROLINE AVERA TAYLOR Ethel Caroline Avera Taylor died November 27, 2017 at home surrounded by her family. She was born in Asheville, NC on October 5, 1936. Ethel was the oldest of four children of the late Charles Nicholas Allen Avera and Ethel English Alexander Avera of Wilmington. She was the devoted wife of 56 years to the late Walker Taylor III.
She was also preceded in death by her sister, Elizabeth English Avera Taylor, her brother-in-law, Victor Grainger Taylor, and her son-in-law, James Chris Cammack III. She is survived by her children, English Taylor Ball and her husband Robert Owen Ball III, Katherine Taylor Cammack, Walker Taylor IV, and Allen Avera Taylor and his wife Gillian Pike Taylor; nine grandchildren: Robert Owen Ball IV, William Taylor Ball, Caroline English Ball, Andrew Allen Taylor, Margaret Avera Taylor, Charlotte Norrie Taylor, and Walker Jackson Taylor, Nicholas Bates Taylor, and Juliet Marie Taylor and their mother, Amy Crittenberger Taylor; her brother, Dr. Charles Nicholas Allen Avera of Wrightsville Beach, NC, her sister, Margaret Avera Whitaker and brother-in-law, Dr. William G. Whitaker III of Atlanta, GA, and many loving nieces, nephews and cousins.
Ethel graduated from New Hanover High School and Wilmington College (now the University of North Carolina at Wilmington), where she served as President of the Student Body.
Ethel lived her entire life in charitable service to her community. She was a kindergarten teacher at St. James Church, volunteer with the American Red Cross, President of the Junior League of Wilmington, Chairman of the National Society of the Colonial Dames of America - New Hanover County, and a founding member and Chairman of the Oleander Garden Club, where she was a member for 54 years. She served on numerous boards, including the Lower Cape Fear Historical Society and Friends of UNC-W. She was a very loyal, active member of St. James Church throughout her adult life, where she will always be remembered for her beautiful voice and service on most every committee, including the St. Martha's Guild, which was very dear to her heart. She began her real estate career in 1979 and was a founding member of Phase II Real Estate, later acquired by Merrill Lynch, and most recently was a broker with Intracoastal Realty. She was a longtime member of the Cape Fear Country Club, the Carolina Yacht Club and the Surf Club and a patroness at the L'Arioso German Club. Ethel was a lady of rare, beautiful Christian character. She was the epitome of courage, strength, poise, grace and goodness. Her children and grandchildren were the lights of her life.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday December 2, 2017 at 1 pm at St. James Church, and a reception following in the Great Hall. A private burial service will be held on Saturday December 2, 2017 prior to the memorial service. Visitation will be at her home on Friday December 1, 2017 from 4 to 6 pm. Memorials in her honor may be made to St. James Parish Foundation at 25 South Third St. Wilmington, NC 28401 or the Brigade Boys and Girls Club at 2759 Vance Street, Wilmington, NC 28412. Condolences to the family at www.andresmortuary.com Andrews Mortuary Market Street Chapel