She was a lifelong member of Poplar Flat Baptist Church where she was active in the WMU, in Sunday School, the choir, and served and held officer positions on various committees in the church and in the Winston Baptist Association.
In 1941, after graduating from Louisville High School, she moved from the Highpoint Community to town and rented a room at Mrs. Hanna’s boarding house. Her first job was with the Selected Service Agency and then with the Citizens Bank of Louisville.
She met Leon Merritt and they were married October 3, 1945. They bought a beautiful home and 40 acres which is today known as White Circle. Later they sold that home and built a home in town on North Church Avenue and began Merritt Plumbing Company where she worked alongside Leon to manage the business.
She was loved by all; serving others was her gift and cooking was her specialty. She was always there for her family and friends. She visited the sick, held the hands of dying friends and family; attended weddings; funerals; showers; recitals; and prepared meals for family, friends, and their children. She continued to do these things until she was not physically able to do this anymore.
Gladys is survived by her husband of 69 years, Leon Merritt; her daughter, Carol Higginbotham and husband, Robert, all of Louisville, Mississippi; and her son, Joe Merritt and wife, Diana, of Texas. She loved being “Meemaw” to her six grandchildren: Joshua McNeill; Julee McNeill; J. D. McNeill; Megan Merritt; Emma Teague and husband, Wesley; and Kiel Higginbotham and wife, Lara; and to her two great-grandchildren, Maci Jane McNeill and Jett Higginbotham. She is also survived by her brother, Ester Taylor and wife, Marjorie; and a host of nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her parents, John and Virgie Bagwell Taylor; four brothers, Burtron Taylor; J. B. Taylor; Freeman Taylor; and Morris Taylor; and by four sisters, Allie Mae Cockrell; Bonnie Ellis; Bessie Alene Taylor; and Mattie Doris Taylor.
She was content, full of joy, faithful, kind, never envious, never holding a grudge, never raising her voice. She did not store up her treasures in things of this world. Her love for her family and her friends cannot be measured and for her 91 years she was truly blessed.
Serving as pallbearers will be Kiel Higginbotham, J. D. McNeill, Joshua McNeill, Bobby Stubbs, Wesley Teague, and Norman White. Memorials may be given to the Poplar Flat Cemetery Fund, P. O. Box 684, Louisville, MS 39339.
Serving as pallbearers will be Kiel Higginbotham, J. D. McNeill, Joshua McNeill, Bobby Stubbs, Wesley Teague, and Norman White. Memorials may be given to the Poplar Flat Cemetery Fund, P. O. Box 684, Louisville, MS 39339.