Grace Joan Taylor

Grace Joan Gardner Taylor, 88, of Danville, Virginia, passed away peacefully on November 21, 2025. Born on April 2, 1937, she was the daughter of the late Charles Harold Gardner, Sr. and Evelyn Stone Keesee Gardner.

Joan retired from the Department of Social Services for the City of Danville and was a member of Oak Grove Baptist Church in Keeling, Virginia.

Her life was marked by kindness, devotion, and a deep love for animals. She dedicated much of her time to caring for them, embodying compassion and gentleness in all that she did. Her nurturing spirit touched not only the lives of the creatures she cherished but also the many family members and friends who loved her dearly.

She is survived by her loving husband, Horace Porter Taylor, Jr.; her brothers, Charles Harold Gardner, Jr. (Linda) of Richmond, Virginia, and William Keesee Gardner (Sarah) of Richmond, Virginia; and her beloved nieces and nephews—Michael and Scott Gardner, as well as Emily, Matthew, and Katherine Gardner. Joan was a proud and devoted aunt, and her family will always remember her as a source of warmth, wisdom, and unwavering support.

A private family service will be held to honor her memory. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the SPCA of Pittsylvania County, P.O. Box 936, Chatham, VA 24531, reflecting Joan’s lifelong dedication to the care and protection of animals.