Mary Ann (Vibbert) Taylor

Mary Ann was born on Sept. 8, 1943, in Jamestown, New York to Cecil and Marguerite (Cantafio) Vibbert. Mary Ann was raised in Jamestown, but she also lived in Warren, Pennsylvania for many years as an adult.

Mary Ann had to have everything perfect, neat and in its place. Even going as far as ironing underwear and towels. She often referred to herself as a perfectionist. She loved to clean and organize for others as much as for herself. She was a leader, not a follower.

She loved her family and friends and was very loyal to them. Her favorite memories were spending time with her big Italian family, especially during the holidays. Her close ties to family helped to develop her into a loving, caring, and giving adult. She was known in the family for making the best macaroni salad, cooking the best pork chops, and her oil and vinegar salad dressing.

From an early age, Mary Ann always considered herself an advocate for those less fortunate than her. As a young girl, she would defend other children when they were being bullied or made fun of and chase away the offenders, even if they were boys and bigger than her. Mary Ann may have been small in stature, but she never let that stop her. She went against the flow of the “popular” kids and befriended the friendless.

Growing up and into her adult years, she developed a no nonsense, “take nothing from nobody” attitude. You always knew where she stood on any matter, and she was not afraid to tell anyone how she felt. Everyone knew they did not want to make her mad. If you saw “the look”, you better run.

Throughout her life, Mary Ann worked a variety of jobs, from waitressing to cleaning homes. She was skilled in furniture upholstery, working for Master Carvers and was a quality control inspector for Anderson Screw Products, a precision machine shop in Jamestown for 10 years. No matter what job Mary Ann was performing, she was always very meticulous and brought her no nonsense attitude to the job. As an inspector, Mary Ann would often reject parts because she could not let it go through even if it was just a “little” off. If it wasn’t exact to the specifications, it was not accepted. She was so passionate about the quality of the Mary Kay products that she used, she decided to became a representative and sold Mary Kay for a time.

On Dec. 7, 1974, Mary Ann gave birth to her son, William (Billy). Even though she was hoping for a girl, she devoted her life to taking care of him. Soon after he was born, she had to quit her job because he became sick with severe allergies.

Being a single mother, she had to go on Public Assistance to be able to give him the time and care he needed. Because Billy was allergic to formula, among many other foods, she would go out of her way to a local farm and get goat’s milk to supplement his diet. She would often have to close all the curtains in the apartment during the day, because the sunlight would cause him to have very bad headaches.

She sacrificed her time, relationships, and sometimes her own happiness, to help him get well and grow up to become the man she was proud of.

Mary Ann faced adversity early in her adult life, but in 1979, her life changed dramatically. She accepted Jesus Christ. She took those qualities, developed as a young girl, and dedicated her life to serving her Lord and Savior.

She quickly became involved in church by attending Jamestown Revival Center. She would continue to grow in the Lord and would utilize the qualities she learned in her early years to help others find Christ. She did not hesitate to tell someone about how the Lord saved her and transformed her life.

Her no nonsense attitude transitioned from a worldly perspective to Biblical principles. She believed the Bible, word for word, and there was no “in between”.

Her leadership qualities led her to becoming Sunday School Superintendent, where she would oversee all age levels of classes. She would conduct yearly Vacation Bible School for children of all ages in the community and write and direct Christmas programs and performances for years. She served in this capacity for Jamestown Revival Center, Abundant Life Church of God (formerly Allen Park Church of God), and New Life Christian Center (formerly Jamestown Revival Center).

She worked closely with the Pastors, often helping with other areas of the ministries, such as office duties, cleaning the church, and much more.

After moving to Florida in 1997, to be with her son and daughter-in-law, she became a member of New Beginnings Life Center in Spring Hill. She quickly became involved as she had in the past by doing anything that needed to be done. She started out by cleaning the church, ushering, and then becoming the Pastoral Attendant to Pastors Earl and Erna Harrigan.

For many years, Mary Ann would use her gift of hospitality to serve her Pastors and all incoming guest ministers and speakers. As with everything else, she did not take this responsibility lightly. She faithfully served with excellence and dedication.

Along with her love for Jesus, family, and friends, Mary Ann loved animals. Although she loved animals of all kinds, she favored cats. If you knew Mary Ann, you knew her cats were her world. Her son would often joke that he used to be number one, but now he had dropped way down on the list behind the cats.

She had a love and passion for shopping like no other. Her items of choice were anything for her cats, dress suits for church, dress heels to match her outfits, and jewelry to accessorize.

She was always looking for someone she could bless by taking them shopping. She often would take children from the family and church shopping for school clothes and supplies. She found so much joy in being able to help others.

Surviving are her son and daughter-in-law, with whom she lived, William “Billy” and Ann Marie Taylor, of Spring Hill, Florida; her loving sister, Lena “Lee” Webb of Jamestown; three nieces, Kimberly “Kim” and Chuck Borton, of Jamestown; Sherrie and Jeff Lindstrom, of Salisbury, North Carolina; and Leslie and Robert “Bob” Rew, of Jamestown; several great-great-great nieces and nephews whom she loved dearly. She also leaves behind six cats, Tiffany, Little Girl, Tigger, Tabitha, Timmy, and Hershey.

Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by her brother-in-law, William “Bill” Webb and niece, Melissa “Missy” Webb.

The enemy did not take her life, domestic violence did not win, dementia did not get the final say…Jesus himself came and took her to be with Him and all those that have gone before us. Her body has been made whole, her hearing is clear, and her mind is now the same as Christ.

She is loved and will be greatly missed by her family, friends, and fur babies. We will see her again.