Beverly Marie Taylor

Sunrise, July 19, 1936 - Sunset, April 17, 2026

Beverly was born in Freeport, Illinois to Oather (Sr.) and Ines Taylor, the third of eight children, later becoming a family of nine children after the adoption of a little girl.

Beverly grew up on Freeport’s east side, attending St. Paul’s Baptist Church where her mother served as music director.

Gentle, outgoing, and possessing a kind and generous spirit, Beverly became Freeport High School’s first African-American cheerleader making many friends, securing what would become lifetime friendships. After graduating, her first job was as Registrar for the Boy Scouts of America.

She met her husband-to-be KC Jones through her eldest brother Carl Cain. KC and Carl began as NCAA rivals playing for the University of San Francisco and University of Iowa respectively. Their teams met often in the playoffs, fostering what would become a close friendship.

In August 1959, KC and Beverly married at St. Paul’s Baptist Church with the newlyweds settling in Boston for KC’s first job as a shooting/point-guard for the Boston Celtics. As a result of KC and Bill Russell’s close friendship since college, Beverly bonded with his wife Rose, forever connecting the Jones and Russell families.

In her later years, Beverly lived an exciting and independent life traveling extensively visiting Switzerland, France, Italy, Scotland, Ireland, Jordan, Egypt, South Korea, and Israel, eventually living in Jerusalem for one year. With that said, spending time with her children, relatives, and close friends made her the happiest.

Beverly’s deep faith in God inspired all who knew her with many drawn to her gentle ways. She never met a stranger and when asked, dispensed practical wisdom, peppered with humorous anecdotes and comical phrases.

Beloved wife, mother, sister, auntie, cherished friend, and devoted member of Mountain Christian Church (Harford County Maryland), she touched countless lives with her kindness, warmth, and unwavering love. Her gentle spirit and generous heart inspired all who knew her, leaving behind fond memories and a lasting legacy. She will be deeply missed, but her love remains with us always.

Beverly is survived by her five children; Leslie, K.C. III, Kelly, Bryna (Eddie), Holly; brothers Oather Taylor Jr., Herbie Taylor, sister Mary Burris; sisters-in-law Kattie Louise Jones, Catherine Cain, Frances Taylor, Geraldine “Geri” Taylor, Deborah Taylor and an abundance of nieces and nephews. Beverly is predeceased by her parents Oather Sr. and Ines Taylor; parents-in-law K.C. Jones Sr. and Eula Mae Jones; former husband K.C. Jones Jr; brothers Carl Cain, Lemuel Russell Taylor, David Taylor; sisters Carolyn Maxine Edison, Catherine Banks; sisters-in-law Eula Mae Thomas, Patsy Jean Hampton, Rose Taylor; brothers-in-law Freeman Jones, Oliver J. Edison, and Roosevelt Banks.

Homegoing services to be held:

Saturday May 2nd at 11:00am CDT

Burke-Tubbs Funeral Home

504 N. Walnut Avenue Freeport, Illinois 61032 Ph: 815.233.0613

Internment: Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens

Freeport, Illinois 61032

Celebration of Life:

Saturday May 9th at 12pm EDT

Mountain Christian Church

1824 Mountain Rd Joppatowne, Maryland 21085