Mrs. Esther “Sally” Dorsey Taylor of Smiths Station, Alabama passed Sunday, April 13, 2025 in Columbus, Georgia.

Funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. EST on Saturday, April 19, 2025 at Good Hope Missionary Baptist Church, 5230 Lee Rd. 240, Phenix City, AL with Rev. Pryce Battle, Pastor, officiating; Rev. Quenton Dorsey, eulogist. Burial to follow in Greater Ebenezer Baptist Church Cemetery, 875 Lee Rd. 334, Salem, AL.

Public viewing is 9:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. EST on Friday, April 18, 2025 with a Family Hour from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm EST at Taylor Funeral Home.

Sally's Story

"Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away to be at rest!" Psalm 55:6

Mrs. Esther Ina Dorsey Taylor was born on July 12, 1956, to her biological mother, Henrietta Dorsey, in the loving home of her maternal grandparents, Mr. Henry and Mrs. Ethel Dorsey, in Salem, Alabama. Born at home she never left there and became the youngest of Ms. Ethel’s children. At the time of her birth, Esther was delivered at home by a midwife. A clerical error resulted in her being named “Esther Ina” instead of her intended name,

“Ethel Myrtis Dorsey.” Fondly nicknamed “Sally” by her family, the name originated from a popular song of the time and her early lack of natural hair. As the baby of the household, she remained especially close to Momma and she was assigned the privilege of getting Papa’s pipe whenever he was home.

A devoted woman of faith, Esther accepted Jesus Christ at an early age and was baptized at Greater Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church in Salem, Alabama. There, she served joyfully and diligently as an usher, choir member, nurse’s ministry, matron, church secretary, member of the bereavement and food bank committees, Vacation Bible School Teacher, Sunday School teacher, and missionary department.

In 2020, she followed the leading of the Lord and joined Good Hope Missionary Baptist Church in Phenix City, Alabama, where she continued her faithful service as a Deacon’s Wife, member of the choir ministry, ushers’ ministry and Church School teacher.

Esther was committed to education because it was instilled in her by her Momma, who would encourage all of her children by instructing them by saying, “make sure that you get your lesson.” A proud member of a fully integrated graduating class of Smiths Station High School in 1974, Esther broke barriers and went on to pursue higher education. She earned a scholarship to attend the Tuskegee Institute of Technology, but paused her academic journey to embrace motherhood, welcoming her beloved and only son, Quenton Terrell Dorsey. Determined to provide a better future for herself and her son, Esther began working the third shift as a technician at West Central Regional Hospital in Columbus, Georgia.

With steadfast determination and unwavering faith, she pursued her childhood dream of becoming a nurse. While continuing to work third shift, she enrolled at Columbus Technical College, where she earned her Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) credential. She later graduated from Chattahoochee Valley Community College and passed the state board exam to become a Registered Nurse.Esther loved serving people and being a nurse. She faithfully worked for several decades, offering compassionate care to patients across numerous facilities, including West Central Regional Hospital, the office of Dr. Bruce Sutton, Columbus Medical Center, the Bradley Center of Columbus, Phenix City Medical Center, Kahi Mohla in Ewa Beach, Hawaii, and most recently, Piedmont Healthcare System. Her heart for people and unwavering work ethic left an indelible impact on all who encountered her care.

On May 11, 2013, Esther was united in holy matrimony with her high school classmate and dear friend, Deacon Clarence Taylor. Their union, divinely orchestrated, was a source of great joy and fulfillment in her life. She affectionately referred to him as her “Boo,” and he lovingly called her his “Sweetie.” Together, they shared some of the happiest years of her life, and she often expressed her gratitude to God for bringing Clarence back into her life.

On Sunday, April 13, 2025, Esther departed from labor to reward. Esther was preceded in death by her biological mother, Ms. Henrietta Dorsey; her loving parents, Mr. Henry and Mrs. Ethel Dorsey; her brothers, Tommy and Hubbard Dorsey; and uncles, Lemon and Jr. Damon Dorsey.

She leaves to celebrate, love, and cherish precious memories of her legacy of life to her devoted husband, Deacon Clarence Taylor; her parental father, Mr. Curtis (Dotty) Swanson; two children, Quenton T. Dorsey and Carmea Dixon; devoted bonus children, Monica Holloway, JaQuez Hoskins, and JaNiah Hoskins; two brothers, Ralph C. (Vonda) Dorsey and Kenneth Madden; four sisters, Doretha Dorsey, Johnnie M. Flewellen, Brenda F. (Allen Jr.) Porch and Bertha (Shawn) Shelton; two aunts, Ada E. Ford and Virginia Williams; brothers-in-law, George (Virginia) Taylor Jr., Milton (Masie) Taylor, Johnnie (Juanita) Taylor; sister-in-law, Evone Taylor; sister-in- love, Janice (Gregory, Sr.) Wright; four grandchildren, Marcus Morgan, Quiana M. Dorsey, Quendarius Dorsey, and Naomi T. Dorsey; three great grandchildren, Taylor Coppins, Maddison Dorsey and Lauryn Grimes and three bonus grandchildren, Nia S. Thompson, C J Washington, and Danielle N. Palmer.

She also leaves six godchildren, Allen (Dorthy) Porch III, Damonica Cannon FNP, Dr. Jacqueri Cannon, CSM Alvin T. (Carrie) Porch, Portia Chamber and Myra Holt; Staff of Taylor Funeral Home and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

Mrs. Esther Ina Dorsey Taylor lived a life marked by faith, family, and service.

From Labor to Reward