Bereavement and Homegoing

Errie Marie (Hughes) Taylor, the oldest daughter of the late Charles James (Jim) Hughes and the late Meacie Etta (Penn) Hughes, was born in Stokes County (Westfield), North Carolina. Errie passed away peacefully at 7:15 PM Monday evening, December 9, 2024 at UPMC Community General Osteopathic Hospital, surrounded by her family at her side.

She received her early formal education at Big Creek Elementary School and Pinnacle Elementary School in Pinnacle, North Carolina. With Errie’s unexpected passing, only two of her childhood classmates remain: Levitha Clark Mack and Doris Clark Hill. They remember mom as bashful and pretty with long hair. They lovingly called her, ‘Crybaby’, because of her sensitive and kind nature she exhibited at an early age. Mom could only complete the 8th grade, working on the farm and who took care of her mother during her early years. While working on the farm, ‘priming tobacco’, she became a gifted and talented homemaker, caregiver and seamstress. In her later years, Errie desired and obtained her GED, through OIC and taught Home Economics and Sewing in the Harrisburg School District, from which she retired. Throughout her career, Errie had made wedding gowns for her sisters, her own daughter, her daughter-in-law and also for others in the community. Her cake baking skills were known throughout the Hughes and Penn Reunions.

Errie accepted the Lord as her personal Savior at the Revival at the Locust Grove Primitive Baptist Church (Westfield). She was baptized in the Yatkin River with a desire to be a ‘Servant of the Lord, forever. Later, while still in North Carolina, she attended Chestnut Ridges Church (Pinnacle). After relocating to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania in 1956 with her family, Errie joined the First Baptist Church of Steelton pastored by the late Rev. Emmitt L. Green. She was President of both the Senior Usher Board and the Progressive Women’s Auxiliary, whose works included the embroidered Church membership Christian Flag, hanging in the church’s hallway.

In 1980, she became a ‘Founding Member’ of the United Missionary Baptist Church, Harrisburg, under the leadership of her son, Reverend Alvin Q. Taylor. Errie has served faithfully over 85 years as an usher, Deaconess, Church Clerk, member of the Visitation Committee and served on the Finance Committee, until her death.

Errie was the 9th of 10 children and the oldest daughter. She was the widow of the late Harry Alonzo Taylor, who at his death, they celebrated 63 years of marriage. This union produced 3 children: Lonzie Melvin, Gloria Elaine and Alvin Q. Taylor.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, oldest son and 6 siblings: James Z. Hughes, Mary Allia Montgomery, Walter Hughes, Garfield Hughes, J.D. Hughes and Brenda (Hughes) Jack.

Errie is survived by 3 children, Prophetess Gloria E. (Tyrone) Herring, the Reverend Alvin Q. (Mary) Taylor, all of Harrisburg and Larry (Peggy) France; 3 grandchildren, Alvin Q. Taylor, Jr., Bryant S. (Mallory)Taylor, both of Harrisburg and Jasmine N. Taylor of Hanover, Maryland; 2 Great-grandchildren, Mayla Rae Taylor and WrenleyRose Taylor and a grandpup, Denver.

Errie is also survived by 3 siblings, Edward Ray Hughes of Enola, Pennsylvania, Meacie Inez (Richard) Fairfax of Durham, North Carolina and Dorothy (John) Davis of Bowie, Maryland; one sister-in-law, Maggie Estelle (Taylor) Bridges of Harrisburg, PA and her close friend, Olis F. Bartley of Virginia and a host of nephews, nieces, great-nephews and great-nieces, great-great nieces and great- great nephews, cousins and other relatives, neighbors and friends.

Her life will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, December 20, 2024 in the Chapel of the Major H. Winfield Funeral Home, Steelton with viewing and visitation from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. and burial in Woodlawn Memorial Gardens.